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Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita, M. arenaria, and M. javanica) cause severe damage to watermelon and resistance has not been identified in any watermelon cultivar. In greenhouse tests, we evaluated 265 U.S. plant introductions (PIs) for nematode resistance (based on root galling and nematode reproduction), and identified 22 PIs of Citrullus lanatus var. citroides as moderately resistant to M. arenaria race 1. In subsequent tests, these 22 PIs exhibited low to moderate resistance to M. incognita race 3 and M. arenaria race 2. Three watermelon (C. lanatus var. lanatus) cultivars (Charleston Gray, Crimson Sweet, and Dixie Lee), three C. colocynthis PIs, and four C. lanatus var. citroides PIs, all previously shown to be susceptible to M. arenaria race 1, were susceptible to M. incognita race 3 and M. arenaria race 2. The C. lanatus var. citroides PIs that are most resistant to both M. incognita and M. arenaria should be useful sources of resistance for developing root-knot nematode resistant watermelon cultivars.
Five vineyard floor management treatments were evaluated for effects on weed control over two growing seasons in an establishing ‘Chardonnay’ (Vitis vinifera) vineyard in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Four cover crop management treatments and an unplanted treatment were compared to assess the effects on vine row and alleyway weed coverage and densities of broadleaf and grass weeds. A winter annual cover crop was grown in alleyways of the cover-cropped treatments and was mowed in spring. The mowed residue was managed as follows: 1) residue transferred in-row as mulch representing the industry practice of “mow-and-throw,” 2) residue transferred in-row as mulch at three times the rate of the earlier treatment, 3) mowed residue incorporated into alleyways, and 4) removal of mowed cover crop residue from the vineyard. Weed coverage was assessed visually within a 1.0-m2 quadrat placed randomly in alleyways and vine rows, and densities of broadleaf and grass weeds were determined by counting and grouping individual weeds within each quadrat. Vine row weed coverage and densities were lower in treatments with residue mulch at each sampling date in 2009 and 2010, with nearly 100% in-row weed suppression by the heavier mulch treatment. Alleyway weed coverage was lowest when residue was incorporated and highest in the unplanted treatment at some sampling dates. Grass weed densities in alleyways were similar between treatments at all sampling dates. Results of this study indicate that in-row mulch of cover crop residues at fresh weight densities of 2.5–15.0 kg·m−2 provided effective weed control in a non-irrigated vineyard in western Oregon. Also, alleyway weed coverage may be reduced through incorporation of mowed cover crop residues.
The histology and morphology of developing asparagus Asparagus officinalis L.) somatic embryos arising in callus cultures were examined and contrasted with that documented for zygotic embryos. Histological sections of lateral bud-derived callus cultured for 2 weeks on embryo induction medium consisting of Murashige and Skoog salts and vitamins (MS) with 1.5 mg NAA/liter and 0.1 mg kinetin/liter indicated the formation of distinct groups of embryogenic cells. At 4 weeks, the callus was comprised of embryos in the early and late globular stages and a few bipolar embryos. Within 2 weeks on embryo development medium consisting of MS with 0.05 mg NAA/liter and 0.1 mg kinetin/liter, the globular embryos developed a bipolar shape having an expanded upper region that formed the cotyledon and a smaller region that formed the radicle. Within 4 to 6 weeks on this latter medium, each mature bipolar embryo was opaque and had a large cotyledon, a distinct shoot apex at the cotyledon-hypocotyl junction, and vascular connections between the radicle, shoot apex, and cotyledon. Many mature somatic embryos resembled the asparagus zygotic embryos in having a crescent shape, whereas others had a short but wide cotyledon. Both somatic embryo types converted to plantlets at equal rates. Chemical names used: N- (2-furanylmethyl)-1 H -purin-6-amine (kinetin); 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA).
Fifteen highbush (or highbush hybrid) blueberry cultivars (Vaccinium corymbosum Linnaeus), two rabbiteye blueberry cultivars (V. ashei Reade), and one southern lowbush (V. darrowi Camp) selection from the wild were examined using seventeen 10-base RAPD and seven 15- to 18-base SSR-anchored primers (primers comprised of SSR motifs) in polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). Fifteen RAPD and three SSR markers resulting from these reactions were chosen to construct a DNA fingerprinting table to distinguish among the genotypes included in this study. Similarity values were calculated based on 132 RAPD and 51 SSR bands, and a dendrogram was constructed based on the similarity matrix. The V. ashei cultivars and V. darrowi selection grouped out separately from the V. corymbosum cultivars as expected. However, estimates of relative genetic similarity between genotypes within the V. corymbosum group did not agree well with known pedigree data and, thus, indicated that RAPD and SSR data did not accurately assess the genetic relationships of cultivars within this species.
Root-knot nematodes [Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood, and Meloidogyne javanica (Treub) Chitwood] are serious pests of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus] in the southern United States and worldwide. Watermelon cultivars with resistance to any of these nematode pests are not available. Therefore, we evaluated all accessions of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.(21) and Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. citroides (L.H. Bailey) Mansf.(88), and about 10% of C. lanatus var. lanatus (156) accessions from the U.S. Plant Introduction (PI) Citrullus germplasm collection for resistance to M. arenaria race 1 in greenhouse tests. Only one C. lanatus var. lanatus accession exhibited very low resistance [root gall index (GI) = 4.9] and 155 C. lanatus var. lanatus accessions were susceptible (GI ranged from 5.0 to 9.0, where 1 = no galls and 9 = ≥81% root system covered with galls). All C. colocynthis accessions were highly susceptible (GI range = 8.5 to 9.0). However, 20 of 88 C. lanatus var. citroides accessions were moderately resistant with a GI range of 3.1 to 4.0; overall GI range for the C. lanatus var. citroides accessions was 3.1 to 9.0. Resistance to M. arenaria race 1 identified in the C. lanatus var. citroides accessions was confirmed on a subset of accessions in a replicated greenhouse test. The results of our evaluations demonstrated that there is significant genetic variability within the U.S. PI Citrullus germplasm collection for resistance to M. arenaria race 1 and also identified C. lanatus var. citroides accessions as potential sources of resistance.
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) cause extensive damage to watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus], and resistance to root-knot nematodes has not been identified in any watermelon cultivar. Twenty-six U.S. Plant Introductions (PIs) of Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. citroides (L. H. Bailey) Mansf., one PI of C. lanatus var. lanatus, and three PIs of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. were evaluated in greenhouse tests for resistances to Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood race 3 and Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood race 2. Twenty-three of the C. lanatus var. citroides PIs and the C. lanatus var. lanatus PIs were previously identified as moderately resistant to M. arenaria race 1. Overall, the C. lanatus var. citroides PIs exhibited low to moderate resistance, and the C. lanatus var. lanatus and C. colocynthis PIs were susceptible to both M. incognita race 3 and M. arenaria race 2. The C. lanatus var. citroides PI 482303 was the most resistant PI with gall index (GI) = 2.88 and reproductive index (RI) = 0.34 for M. incognita race 3 and GI = 3.46 and RI = 0.38 for M. arenaria race 2 (1 = no galling; 5 = 26% to 38% root system galled; 9 = 81% to 100% root system galled). These results demonstrate that there is significant genetic variability within C. lanatus var. citroides for reaction to M. incognita and M. arenaria race 2, and several C. lanatus var. citroides PIs may provide sources of resistance to root-knot nematodes.
A simple and efficient protocol is reported for the isolation of RNA from embryos and leaves of pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch]. The method relies on suppression of the polyphenols from interaction with the RNA and their rapid removal from the homogenate by chloroform extraction. This method produced abundant amounts of high-quality RNA. This protocol is likely to be useful for Juglandaceous species and other recalcitrant plants with high levels of phenolic compounds.
The coordinate expression of mRNA classes in pecan (Carya illinoensis) zygotic and somatic embryos has been studied. MRNA was isolated from zygotic embryos at early and late maturation stages (12 to 22 weeks post-pollination) and during germination. Additionally, mRNA was isolated from somatic embryos derived from a repetitive embryogenic system prior and after cold (6 weeks at 4°C) and desiccation treatments (5 days). These treatments have been determined to enhance somatic embryo conversion. The abundance of embryogenic mRNA classes was determined using various cloned cotton mRNA probes (Hughes and Galau, 1989). This study is a part of our efforts to elucidate the developmental and physiological differences between zygotic and somatic embryo systems in pecan.
Repetitive somatic embryogenic lines of pecan (Carya illinoensis) were obtained and subcultured on basal WPM, following a one week induction of zygotic embryo tissue on modified WPM with 6 mg/L NAA. Gene expression of somatic embryos has been studied and compared with that occurring in zygotic embryos. Somatic embryos simultaneously expressed mRNA classes that are specific to each of the zygotic embryo cotyledon (Cot), maturation (Mat), and post abscission stages (Late embryogenesis, Lea). Somatic embryos exhibiting such multiple, nonregulated gene expression patterns have a low germination rate. Treatments found to enhance embryo germination (cold and desiccation) may be effective in part, by modifying gene expression patterns. Some of the Cot and Mat mRNA classes decreased following such treatments, while Lea mRNAs were not effected. Cold and desiccation treatments appear to coordinate gene expression in pecan somatic embryos, which might be associated with embryo germination.
Little is known about the effect of growth temperature on Aster (Compositae, Asteraceae) flower development. In this study, we report on this effect for two aster lines, `Suntana' and `Sungal'. Growth temperature had a dramatic effect on the duration of flower development, ranging from 22 days for plants growing at 29 °C up to 32 days for plants grown at 17 °C. Flower longevity was ≈40% shorter under the higher temperature for both lines. Growth temperature also affected flowerhead form: `Suntana' flowerhead diameter was 20% larger at 17 °C than at 29 °C. The number of `Sungal' florets per flowerhead was four times greater at the lower temperature. Shading (30%) under temperature-controlled conditions had no effect on any of the parameters measured. For plants grown outdoors, our results suggest that shading plants may increase quality by reducing the growth temperature.