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- Author or Editor: Peter D. Ascher x
We evaluated the extent to which `Swenson Red' seeded grape (Vitis × spp.) responded to single and repeated GA3 applications to induce seedless fruit development. Field studies were conducted to test the time of pre-anthesis GA3 application (18, or 24 May or 3 June), the usefulness of postanthesis application, the optimum GA3 concentration (0, 0.075, 0.15, or 0.3 mm), and the method of application. The treatment dates that gave a high percentage of seedless berries with an acceptable berry count per cluster were 24 May with postanthesis application and 3 June pre-anthesis only. The optimum GA3 concentration was 0.15 mm applied both before and after anthesis. The most seedless berries developed when pre- and postanthesis applications were used, indicating many seedless fruit developed from flowers that would have abscised. There was no difference in percent heedlessness, number of berries per cluster, or number of seeds per berry between clusters dipped or sprayed with 0.3 mm GA3. Chemical uame used: gibberellic acid (GA3).
Three classes of crosses using four genotypes of V. riparia (wild Riverbank grape) as maternal parents were evaluated for evidence of reproductive expression of genetic incongruity. The classes were: I V. riparia x V. vinifera cultivars (European domesticated grape); II V. riparia x French Hybrids (complex interspecific hybrids); III V. riparia x V. riparia. Percent fruit set and seeds per berry were recorded for two years. If incongruity is a factor in interspecific grape crosses, then the values for these traits would be expected to be lower in classes I and II than in class III. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences for some half-sib families. Fruit and seed set were lower in classes I and II than in class III, suggesting that incongruity is operative in wide grape crosses. In the process of creating French hybrids, genomes of several species came together over generations of hybridization. In concert with selection for fertility, repeated interspecific genomic exposure would be expected to have ameliorated the effects of initial incongruity between American species and V. vinifera, increasing their value as genetic bridges in breeding programs.
Abstract
The relationship between in vivo pollen germination and vital staining was tested for 7 genotypes of deciduous azalea (Rhododendron sp.) differing in fertility. Fluorescein diacetate, 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC), and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) all showed significant correlations between staining and germination. AEC produced the highest significant correlation (r = 0.96). AEC and MTT were the most suitable vital stains for azalea pollen.
Accessions of Vaccinium species (deliciosum, ovalifolium, membranaceum, parvifolium, scoparium) were evaluated for tolerance to higher pH in the root zone using an in vitro screening procedure. Seeds were germinated on media containing all essential nutrients with nitrogen in the nitrate form at pH 5 and pH 6 and evaluated for 21 weeks. Excess EDTA was used to buffer the micronutrients and pH was buffered by MES and succinic acid. Germination varied among species with V. ovalifolium being highest and V. parvifolium not germinating at all. Mortality was lower at pH 5. At pH 6, V. ovalifolium and V. membranaceum exhibited variation for growth while all other species suffered complete mortality.
The generation time (0.75 to 1.5 years) in perennial, hexaploid chrysanthemums [Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelv. (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.)] impedes the rate of progress for sexual breeding programs in creating new clonal cultivars, inbred lines for hybrid seed production, and genetic studies. Modifications to the crossing environment and embryo rescue were evaluated to minimize the chrysanthemum generation cycle. One greenhouse chrysanthemum clone was outcross-pollinated using a bulk pollen source. Following emasculation, inflorescences were either left in situ or the peduncle bases were placed in styrofoam boards floating on a solution of 1% sucrose and 200 ppm 8-HQC under laboratory conditions. Embryogenesis occurred at a faster rate under laboratory conditions as tested with histological techniques; the heart stage appeared as early as the second day after pollination, compared with 11 days using in situ methods. Total embryogenic development time ranged from 25 (laboratory seed development) to 52+ days (in situ ripening). In a second test, embryo rescue (ER) significantly improved percent seed set, percent germination, and percent of progeny reaching anthesis relative to normal development. ER progeny from both garden parents were significantly earlier in total generation time than corresponding non-ER siblings. Laboratory seed development and ER were then used sequentially to obtain an average progeny generation time of =100 days, thus allowing for three generations per year. The potential impact of these two techniques on breeding chrysanthemums and other perennial crops with long generation times is discussed.
Thirty-three seedling progenies from crosses among Vaccinium corymbosum L., V. angustifolium Ait., and V. corymbosum/V. angustifolium hybrid-derivative parents, and `Northblue', `Northsky', and `Northcountry' were grown for 2 years at three soil pH levels at Becker, Minn. Iron sulfate and lime were incorporated to amend the soil to pH levels of 4.0 and 6.5, respectively; the native soil, pH 4.5, was the third pH regime. The plants grew well in the low pH regime, poorly in the high pH regime, and intermediately in the native pH regime. Variation among populations was significant for all traits except vitality 18 months after being planted, and pH treatment affected all traits. The pH regime × population interactions were not significant for any of the plant performance characteristics. Nondestructive subjective and objective measurements were positively and highly correlated with total plant dry weight. Therefore, populations could be effectively evaluated for tolerance to higher pH without destroying the plant. Vaccinium angustifolium was not a general source of tolerance to higher pH, but some populations derived from V. angustifolium were tolerant of high soil pH.
Seedlings from crosses among Vaccinium corymbosum L., V. angustifolium Ait, and V. corymbosum/V. angustifolium hybrid-derivative parents, and micropropagated `Northblue', `Northsky', and `Northcountry' plants, were grown for 2 years at Becker, Minn., in low (5.0) and high (6.5) soil pH regimes. Nutrient composition expressed as a concentration and total content was determined for P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B in the aboveground portion of the plant. Except for Fe, the pH regime effects on aboveground plant nutrient concentration and total content were much larger than population or population × pH regime interaction effects. Population × pH regime interactions were detected for all nutrients expressed as a concentration, except for P. Generalizations about plant performance and nutrient concentration of the plant could only be made in the context of a given pH regime. At low pH, P and Mn tissue concentrations increased and Ca, Mg, and B concentrations decreased as the percentage of lowbush ancestry increased. At high pH, K, Cu, and B concentrations decreased as the percentage of lowbush ancestry increased. Overall plant performance on the higher pH soils appeared to be positively correlated to aboveground tissue concentrations of Mn, K, and Cu. When expressed as total content, population × pH regime effects were only significant for tissue Mn. Differences in total nutrient content attributed to soil pH were primarily related to differences in plant dry weight.
Progenies from crosses among eight highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), lowbush (V. angustifolium Ait.), and V. corymbosum/V. angustifolium hybrid-derivative parents were evaluated in vitro at low (5.0) and high (6.0) pH for vitality, height, and dry weight. Succinic acid and 2[N- morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid (Mes) effectively maintained pH in the medium and rhizosphere. The pH regime did not affect percent radicle emergence from seed or survival; however, percent seed germination was slightly lower at high pH. The parental general combining ability (GCA), reciprocal and maternal, but not the specific combining ability (SCA) variance components were significant for plant vitality, height, and dry weight. The GCA variance components were six to 26 times larger than the SCA variance components for the plant growth traits. Variation due to pH regime was significant for vitality and dry weight but not for plant height. The progenies of parents with high percent lowbush ancestry were taller at both pH levels than those with less such ancestry. Little variation was apparent for higher pH tolerance as measured by dry weight; however, the GCA effects suggested that the progenies of some parents performed better than others at high pH. Vaccinium angustifolium parents differed in the extent to which tolerance to high pH was transmitted. In vitro screening in concert with a traditional breeding program should be effective in improving blueberry tolerance to higher pH.