genetic effects, although the mother-plant environment during seed development and maturation can also affect carrot seed quality ( Gray et al., 1988 ) and influence thermotolerance as observed in other species ( Sung et al., 1998 ). Also, tolerance to
Abstract
‘Burgundy’ joins the previously released Iowa State F1 hybrid Impatiens (2) in its ability to withstand the rigors of the U.S. Midwest environment while making a colorful addition to the world of bedding plants. ‘Burgundy’ was derived from plant material obtained by the U.S. Plant Introduction Service from New Guinea and nearby islands in 1970(1).
Abstract
All available U.S. Department of Agriculture plant introductions (PI) of pepper were screened and evaluated for their value as annual ornamentals. Eighteen accessions compared favorably with the plant and fruit characters of ornamental cultivars available in the seed trade. Varying plant statures, foliage colors, and fruit colors were noted. Two new Capsicum species are reported for ornamental peppers.
The New Crop Program at the Univ. of Georgia has introduced about a dozen crops new to the floriculture and ornamental plant industry. None of the selections arose from controlled crosses or traditional plant breeding, but were due to discovery, natural plant mutation, and plant donations from interested individuals. All successful introductions benefitted from feedback from the industry, evaluation, research, and promotion of the taxa. No marketing was done by the university. Less than 10% of plants trialed were introduced to the industry, and not all introductions were equally satisfactory. The keys to new crop introduction are feedback from the industry, an industry willing to experiment with new material and to be as highly selective as possible in choosing the crops to be introduced. The disadvantages and benefits of establishing a New Crop Program will be discussed.
Abstract
When moths of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), were exposed to 208 entries of lettuce, significant reduction in oviposition occurred on 8 cultivars, 4 breeding lines, and 17 Plant Introductions. Preference for any 1 cultivar varied depending on the host choice offered. Looper moths preferred younger lettuce plants when plantings of 1 host entry were made as little as 1 week apart. One introduction, each, of Lactuca serriola L. and L. saligna L. were less attractive to looper moths than any entry of L. sativa, and may be valuable sources of resistance to that insect pest.
Abstract
‘Blue Moon’ is a new cultivar developed from the New Guinea-type Impatiens collected by the U. S. Plant Introduction Service in 1970 (1). It is distinguished by large, bright, and abundant flowering and was selected for use as a bedding plant as were other Iowa State F1 hybrid releases (2).
Abstract
The French botanist Andre Micheaux, who set out tea plants circa 1800 at Middleton Barony on the Ashley River a few miles from Charleston, S. C., is the first person known to have grown tea in the United States. Dr. Henry Perrine, of plant introduction fame, and Dr. Junius Smith were among the earliest men to campaign for tea production in the United States.
Abstract
Plantlets orginating from adventitious buds of explants obtained from the decapitated shoot apex of a banana sucker established well under field conditions and gave rise to mature plants with uniform growth and normal yield of fruit. A total of one million pathogen-free plantlets for commercial planting was produced in 1983. Introduction of plantlets for commercial planting prevents the spreading of fusarial wilt of banana by planting materials to the disease-free orchards.
Abstract
Most cultivated crop plants are native to some country other than the United States. Therefore, plant breeders in the United States have to depend heavily upon introduced germplasm. To assure an adequate germplasm base for our plant breeding programs, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, through its Plant Introduction Office, has for many years had a national program for acquisition, preservation, and utilization of germplasm.
Efforts to produce specialty crops by Missouri farmers have been met with varying success. This success is reduced by the lack of established cultural practices necessary for the economic production of these crops. Ten kiwano plant introductions obtained from the Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa, were planted in the greenhouse. Seedling vigor was determined by shoot length, shoot dry weight, and number of leaves produced. Uniform seedlings from each accession were transplanted in the field with within row spacings of 0.9 m and 1.3 m. Seedling vigor varied significantly between accessions. Yields of field grown kiwano were affected by plant spacing, with the closer spaced plants having the higher yields. Plant spacing had no effect on fruit color, fruit length, or fruit width. Incidents of fusarium wilt were prevalent at both plant spacings.