selected according to their attractive ornamental phenotypes and morphology ( Table 8 ). To expand genetic variations for ornamental flower breeding programs using Lychnis and Silene , immature seed culture protocols, phenotype selection, fertility
Abstract
Passiflora caerulea L., blue passion-flower, has been hybridized with other species to produce hybrids of ornamental value and has been grown as a potted plant. P. edulis Sims, the passion fruit, has handsome 3-lobed leaves and large white ornamental flowers. Both species are large vines that would make interesting potted, patio hanging-basket or trellis plants if their stem elongation could be controlled.
Nitroguanidines are a new family of synthetic plant growth regulators (Speltz, Walworth, and Pavlista 1986. US Patent #4, 594, 092) These compounds have cytokinin-like activity such as delaying senescence. Three compounds are AC239, 604, AC243, 419 and AC132, 654 The first two are phenyl and the latter is a benzyl nitroguanidine. Examples of anti-senescence activity of these compounds are: 1. sunflower leaves, 2. tobacco leaves, 3. leafy lettuce, 4. kale, 5. collards, and 6. Swiss chard. The senescence of cut ornamental flowers is also inhibited. Examples are gladiolus and daffodils. Along with delaying senescence, AC239, 604, for example, increased leaf size, thereby, increasing yield of leaf crops such as tobacco (Pavlista and Templeton. 1987. PGRSA Proc.) and lettuce.
Narcissus pseudonarcissus, also known as daffodil, is a world-famous ornamental flower. In this study, for the first time, cross-pollinations between two widely cultivated N. pseudonarcissus varieties ‘Slim Whitman’ and ‘Pinza’ were performed. After eight consecutive years of cultivation, 27 reciprocal hybrids with different genotypes survived; 15 hybrids in ‘Slim Whitman’ × ‘Pinza’ and 12 in ‘Pinza’ × ‘Slim Whitman’. Twenty ornamental and agronomic characters were observed to evaluate the pattern and extent of genetic variability of the hybrids and relatedness with their parents. The hybrids showed great variation in most morphological characters compared with the parents, especially in leaf and flower characters. Hybrids SP03, SP04, SP05, SP12, SP13, PS04, PS06, PS07, PS08, and PS11 had evident growth advantage in some aspects compared with both parents. Of these hybrids, SP04 got novel flowers with white petals and an yellow-orange corona, and had the potential to become a new popular N. pseudonarcissus cultivar. Hybrids SP01, SP03, SP05, PS04, PS06, and PS07 also possessed a great ornamental value. Using cluster analysis based on morphological traits and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers, genetic relationships among the reciprocal cross hybrids and their parents were further analyzed. The 27 reciprocal hybrids and their parents grouped into divergent clusters, showing that there was rich genetic variation among the hybrids tested. This study will pave the way for hybridization breeding programs of N. pseudonarcissus.
Heterostylous Primula forbesii is an important ornamental flower in China because of its long-lasting flowers and winter bloom. This study aimed to develop markers of expressed sequence tag–simple sequence repeats (EST-SSRs) that are associated with heterostyly and that can be used for molecular-assisted selective breeding in P. forbesii. We investigated 114,474 unigenes and identified 25,095 SSRs in P. forbesii. Dinucleotide repeats (46.14%), mononucleotide repeats (44.65%), and trinucleotide repeats (8.27%) were the most abundant SSRs. Among the 25,095 SSRs, 10,645 SSR primer pairs were successfully designed, of which 130 primer pairs were randomly selected for further amplification validation using eight accessions of P. forbesii; 98 pairs produced clear and stable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products, and 28 pairs showed polymorphism. Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was conducted for the F1 population with respect to thrum style and pin style by scanning 28 polymorphic SSR primer combinations. One SSR marker, c64326, linked to the heterostyly trait at a genetic distance of ≈3.70 cM was identified. The marker c64326 was further validated in two populations with an accuracy of 97.92% and 90.63%. The novel and linked EST-SSR markers can be valuable resources for genetic diversity analysis, mapping, and marker-assisted breeding in P. forbesii.
Chile pepper (Capsicum spp.) hybrids are normally produced by hand-emasculating the female parent and then pollinating the emasculated flower by hand. Increased yield has occurred with F1 hybrid seed, but the seed is considered too expensive by growers to be direct-seeded, a common production practice in the southwestern U.S. chile pepper industry. In ornamental flowers, when F2 hybrid seed is available, it is cheaper than F1 hybrid seed. If F2 hybrid chile pepper cultivars could manifest heterosis, and produce fruit quality acceptable to the chile pepper industry, then a less-costly alternative would be available to growers. A series of field trials with jalapeños was conducted to test F1 hybrid cultivars to their F2 progeny for yield and fruit quality. The results indicated that in some instances the F2 progeny can yield as well as the F1 hybrid parent. Therefore, F2 hybrid cultivars can be used in a commercial production system. However, if a male-sterility system is used to produce the F1 hybrid cultivar, the F2 progeny will have significantly lower yield than the F1 hybrid parent, as was the case in one accession in this trial. Nevertheless, F2 hybrid cultivars are an additional way to supply high yielding hybrid cultivars to growers.
Lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera ) is one of the most popular ornamental flowers in Asia. There are two species of lotus: N. nucifera Gaertn. and Nelumbo lutea (Willd.) Pers ( Savolainen and Chas, 2003 ). One major difference between the species is
herb in China, has become a very popular ornamental flower all over the world since it was first introduced to the United Kingdom in 1880 ( Connolly et al., 2004 ). P. obconica mainly grows in moist thickets and deciduous forests between 500 and 3000
full of flowers on the branches, it is desirable as cut flowers and indoor potted ornamental flowers. Availability The owners of ‘Luoshifener’ are Zhejiang Academy of Forestry (Hangzhou, China) and Hangzhou Landscaping Co., Ltd (Hangzhou, China