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- Author or Editor: C.C. Lim x
- HortScience x
A time-course study was conducted to characterize seasonal patterns of cold hardiness (CH) and protein profiles in the leaf tissue of five Rhododendron cultivars (`Grumpy Yellow', `Vulcan's Flame', `Autumn Gold', `Chionoides', and `Roseum Elegans'). Leaf samples were collected monthly (starting in mid September) and leaf discs were subjected to controlled freezing and thawing regimes. CH (LT50 defined as temperature causing 50% injury) was assessed by electrolyte leakage and visual observations. Data indicate that cultivars varied in their CH in nonacclimated state and in their ability to cold acclimate. Results obtained in September showed `Grumpy Yellow' to be least hardy (about –3°C) and `Roseum Elegans' to be most hardy (about –7°C). All cultivars exhibited successive increases in CH during fall and winter. Maximum CH in all cultivars occurred by December/January with `Chionoides' being most hardy (about –31°C) while `Grumpy Yellow' was least hardy (about –20°C). LT50 based on electrolyte leakage was highly correlated with visual rating. Seasonal changes of protein profiles and relationship of specific stress proteins to cultivars' CH and cold acclimation ability are discussed.
The kinetics and efficiency of uptake of minerals (ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, potassium, calcium and magnesium) by roots of three tropical orchid genera (Aranda, Dendrobium and Oncidium) were studied and compared. Mericloned plantlets of these three orchids were cultured in solid Vacin and Went medium. The pattern of mineral uptake by orchids of these three orchid genera was similar. There was a preferential uptake of ammonia over nitrate. Rapid nitrate uptake by roots began only after 3 weeks in culture. Initial uptake of potassium, calcium and magnesium were rapid but the residual levels of these minerals either remained constant (Mg, PO4) or increased (K, Ca) after the 4th week. The % of uptake for ammonium nitrate, phosphate, potassium, calcium and magnesium over 9 weeks of culture was 60-76%, 24-28%, 12.8-27%, 17–30%, 17-26% respectively for the three orchid genera. A good correlation between growth of plantlets and uptrake was observed.
The uptake of nitrate and ammonium by a terrestial (Bromheadia finlaysonia) and an epiphytic (Dendrobium hybrid) orchid in solution culture has been studied. The rates of nitrate and ammonium were relatively linear, with higher rate of uptake for ammonium. The rates of nitrate uptake in terrestial and epiphytic orchids were 0.4 and 0.9 μmole gm fw-1 hr-1 respectively and they were considerably lower than those of most major crops. SEM studies show that the velamen of Bromheadia was 2 cells thick whereas that of Dendrobium was 8-10 cells thick. It is unlikely that the velamen is the major factor in restricting influx of nitrate or ammonium. Nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) were present in roots and leaves of both orchids. NR was high in roots but low in leaves. The reverse was for GS. The activities of NR and GS was low but high enough to account for the rate of nitrate or ammonium uptake. It appears that the movement of ions across the transfer junction at the exodermis plays a major regulatory role in ion uptake by orchid root.
Winter survival in woody plants is controlled by environmental and genetic factors that affect the plant's ability to cold-acclimate. A juvenile period in woody perennials raises the possibility of differences in cold-acclimating ability between juvenile vs. mature (flowering) phases. This study investigated the yearly cold hardiness (CH) changes of rhododendron populations and examined the relationship between leaf freezing tolerance (LFT) and physiological aging. Naturally acclimated leaves (January) from individual plants (parents-R. catawbiense and R. fortunei, F1, F2, and backcross) and F1 population generated from R. catawbiense and R. dichroanthum cross were subjected to controlled freeze-thaw regimes. LFT was assessed by measuring freeze-thaw-induced ion leakage from leaf discs frozen over a range of treatment temperatures. Data were then plotted with a sigmoidal (Gompertz) curve by SAS, to estimate Tmax—the temperature causing maximum rate of injury. Tmax for the 30- to 40-year-old parental plants (catawbiense, fortunei, and dichroanthum) and the F1 `Ceylon' (catawbiense × fortunei) were estimated to be about -52, -32, -16, and -43 °C, respectively. These values were consistent over the 3-year evaluation period. Data indicated the F2 (50 seedlings) and backcross (20 seedlings) populations exhibited significant, yearly Tmax increment (of ≈5-6 °C) from 1996 to 1998 as they aged from 3 to 5 years old. A similar yearly increase was observed in the 12 F1 progenies (compared 2 to 3 years old) of catawbiense × dichroanthum cross. The feasibility of identifying hardy phenotypes at juvenile period and research implications of age-dependent changes in CH will be discussed.
Few genetic studies have been conducted on the inheritance of cold hardiness (CH) in woody plants. An understanding of the genetic control of CH can greatly assist the breeder in reducing winter injury. This study was initiated to evaluate the distribution of CH phenotypes in segregating populations of evergreen rhododendrons. Naturally acclimated leaves from individual plants (parents, F1 and 47 F2 progeny) were subjected to controlled freeze–thaw regimes. Using slow cooling rates, leaf discs were cooled over a range of treatment temperatures from –10°C to –52°C. Freezing injury of leaf tissue was assessed by measuring ion-leakage and non-linear regression analysis (data fitted to Gompertz functions) was used to estimate Tmax, the temperature causing the maximum rate of injury. Tmax for the parent plants (R. catawbiense & R. fortunei) and the F1 cultivar Ceylon, were estimated to be –51.6°C, –30.1°C, and –40.4°C, respectively. CH estimates among F2 progeny (Ceylon, selfed) were normally distributed from –14.8°C to –41.5°C, with mean of –27.6°C. Most F2 progeny were less cold-hardy than the tender parent, R. fortunei. The apparent reduction in F2 CH may be caused by the differences in age between the parents (20-year-old mature plants) and F2 progenies (3-year-old juvenile seedlings). Currently, we are testing age-dependent CH responses in rhododendrons, and are also characterizing CH distributions in a backcross population.
To study ripening-related chilling injury (CI) of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), fruit at mature green, breaker, and red-ripe stages were stored at 1, 5, 7, and 10 °C for 4 weeks. Surface pitting was evaluated after storage at 1 °C for 2 weeks followed by a 2-day exposure to room temperature (20 °C). Exposing fruit to 1 °C enhanced water loss, respiration, ethylene production, and electrolyte leakage, but slowed color change. Weight loss, respiration, ethylene production, electrolyte leakage, and color change increased more in breaker than in mature green and red-ripe fruit. No pitting symptom was observed at temperatures of 5 to 10 °C. After storing peppers at 1 °C for 2 weeks, breaker stage fruit exhibited chilling symptoms of severe surface pitting with more sheet pitting and deeper peel depression. Mature green fruit showed only moderate pitting. However, red-ripe peppers showed no injury and cells showed a normal appearance after low-temperature storage (1 °C). These results show that bell peppers tended to be more susceptible to chilling temperature while at the breaker stage and that the increase in visible CI is correlated with increased water loss, respiration, ethylene production, electrolyte leakage, and color change during storage.
The similarity or differences of peroxidase isozymes in rootstocks and scions may influence their graft compatibility. This study was conducted to identify peroxidase isozymes and/or other proteins that may be used as markers to predict compatibility between pear and various quince clones. `Bartlett' (BT) and `Beurre Hardy' (BH) pear cultivars were budded on 13 selected quince clones and quince A (QA) rootstocks; BT and BH cultivars are known to be incompatible and compatible, respectively, with quince root stocks. Bark and cambial tissues were taken from unbudded rootstocks, scions, and 4 cm above and below the graft union for isozyme analysis. Samples were collected 1, 2, 3, and 12 months after grafting. In addition, samples from the graft unions were also analyzed 12 months after grafting. Isozyme separation was performed by starch gel electrophoresis. Many isozyme bands were commonly observed in the two scions; however, one anodal peroxidase was detected in BH but not in BT samples. This isozyme was also detected in QA and in all but four quince clones. Protein profiles of bark tissues from QA and three pear scions (BT, `Bosc', and P. crassane) were determined using SDS-PAGE. In general, protein profiles of the three pear cultivars appeared remarkably similar; however, P. crassane (a compatible pear cultivar on QA) had a 63 kDa protein, which was absent in BT and faintly observed in `Bosc' (intermediate compatibility). Our results suggest that these isoperoxidase and polypeptide could be associated with pear/quince graft compatibility.