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- Author or Editor: Patrick J. Conner x
Germination of muscadine seed has frequently been low and irregular in the University of Georgia breeding program. A systematic study was undertaken to determine the best seed treatments and germination conditions for muscadine seed. Open-pollinated seeds of ‘Fry’ muscadine were used for all treatments. Stratification of seeds was performed by placing dry seed in damp vermiculite at 4 °C for periods of 0, 30, 60, and 90 d. The 90-d stratification period gave the highest germination percentage, with successively lower germination in the shorter stratification treatments. Pretreatment of seeds before stratification with three rates (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 M) of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and four rates (1, 2, 4, and 8 g·L−1) of gibberellic acid (GA3) were used in an attempt to promote germination. Low rates of H2O2 (0.5 M) and GA3 (1 g·L−1) were beneficial in some instances, whereas high rates of GA3 were detrimental. Nicking the seedcoats before stratification and soaking seeds in running water after stratification were ineffective in promoting germination. Germination temperatures of 32/22 °C (8 h/16 h) were superior to 22/22, 27/22, and 37/22 °C.
A detached leaflet protocol was developed for the evaluation of resistance to Fusicladium effusum in a seedling pecan population segregating for resistance. Leaflets at half to full expansion were detached from seedling trees, sprayed with a conidial suspension (isolate De-Tif-3), placed in a polyethylene bag in a growth chamber, and evaluated microscopically 7 and 14 days after inoculation. The percentage germinated conidia producing subcuticular hyphae was the best determinant of susceptibility with genotypes producing more than 15% subcuticular hyphae considered susceptible. Leaflets at half expansion had higher percentages of subcuticular hyphae and gave a clearer separation between susceptible and resistant genotypes than leaflets at full expansion. An evaluation period of 14 days was preferable to 7 days to allow slower reacting genotypes to be better evaluated. The detached leaflet protocol was evaluated in contrasting environments and was found to be robust to differences in shading and leaflet wetness. Detached leaflet tests gave similar results to field inoculations but were superior in consistently detecting susceptible genotypes. This protocol will be useful in evaluating the inheritance of pecan leaf scab resistance in breeding progenies.
Twenty-six muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) cultivars and selections were evaluated for a range of skin and flesh texture attributes. Two Vitis vinifera L. and one Vitis labruscana Bailey table grape cultivars were included for comparison. Penetration tests using a flat cylindrical probe were used to assess whole berry texture. Ideal whole berry texture is firm and easily broken down during mastication, which was measured as small berry deformation at first peak and berry maximum force, respectively. Muscadine berry deformation at first peak ranged from 4.35 to 7.82 mm and berry maximum force ranged from 5.7 to 13.9 N. V. vinifera table grape berries were firmer (3.14 to 3.19 mm berry deformation at first peak) and more tender (4.0 to 4.9 N berry maximum force) than muscadine berries. Berry penetration work was strongly correlated with both berry deformation at first peak and berry maximum force and ranged from 13.0 to 54.1 mJ in the muscadine germplasm. Penetration tests of muscadine berry flesh revealed a range of flesh firmness from very soft (0.65 N) to firm (3.06 N) but none was as firm as the V. vinifera berry flesh (3.9 N). Penetration tests of muscadine berry skins revealed newer selections bred for table use had relatively tender skins with a skin break force of 12.1 N, which was not different from V. vinifera samples. Berry penetration work and flesh maximum force were determined to be the most useful characteristics for routine screening of breeding program material.
Storage of pollen from 1 year to the next is often needed to enable desired crosses to be made in a pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] breeding program. Stored pollen is usually tested for viability through the use of in vitro germination tests. An in vitro germination testing system was developed for this purpose using cellophane booklets to provide a solid support for the pollen grains. Optimized germination media contained 5% sucrose, 20% polyethylene glycol 8000, 0.05% Ca(NO3)2, 0.025% H3BO3, and 10 mm 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid pH 6.0. Pollen should be rehydrated for 2 to 4 h in a humidified chamber before germination testing. A germination time of 4 to 24 h produces similar final germination percentages. Testing of pollen samples stored at –80 °C indicates that pecan pollen can be stored for at least 8 years without a decrease in viability. Chemical names used: polyethylene glycol (PEG); 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES).