Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of flower color phenotypes in Dendranthema grandiflorum Ramatuelle inbreds and clonal cultivars

Summary Four glasshouse and 13 garden chrysanthemum cultivars or inbred seedlings from the color groups white, yellow, pink/purple, and orange/red/bronze were analyzed with thin-layer chromatography (TLC) for qualitative and quantitative pigment constituents. TLC confirmed the presence of eight carotenoids in yellow and bronze cultivars. Qualitative differences exised only for spots 5–8. Rf values for lutein matched those of spot 4. Flavonoid analysis of purples and bronzes revealed two anthocyanidins, one of which was cyanidin, one flavone, and two phenylpropanoids. White cultivars had four phenylpropanoids, two of which were caffeic and ferulic acids. In most cases, inbred and non-inbred cultivars within a given phenotypic class did not exhibit qualitative differences. Color analysis could be pursued at any level of inbreeding, but inheritance studies would be severely hampered using non-inbred genotypes of this hexaploid floricultural crop.     

Inheritance of flower color in Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev. (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) using cultivars and inbreds. II. Vacuole pigmentation

Summary Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) garden cultivars Vulcan, with deep red ray florest, and Superior, with orange ray petals, were crossed as female with 16 inbred clones and the progeny assessed visually for flower color in 3 environments. Intensity of vacuole pigmentation in ray florets appeared to vary continuously. Evaluation was facilitated by placing plants in 7 color classes ranging from red, the most intense, through orange, an intermediate intensity, to yellow, the apparent lack of vacuole pigmentation. A simple hexaploid model with additive gene action, suggested by the 7 color classes, was inappropriate, as more than 50% of the plants in Vulcan families were red and more than 60% of the plants in Superior families were orange. Comparing evaluations of parental clones in 2 glasshouse and 2 field environments and considering data from an experiment, in which progeny first classified in the glasshouse were reevaluated in the field, revealed substantial shifts in classification. In the glasshouse, more individuals appeared in the red and orange classes, while field evaluation placed more individuals in classes adjacent to red and orange. However, the predominance of progeny in the color class of the common parent, that is, red for the Vulcan and orange for the Superior families, occurred in both glasshouse and field. Plants scored as other than red appeared in crosses between Vulcan and 3 red inbreds, suggesting that red ray petals are not conditioned by a homozygous genotype. The orange of Superior and orange progeny may be due to a single dominant gene causing mosaic-like distribution of red vacuole pigmentation over yellow plastid pigmentation. Because cloned genotypes were classified differently in diverse environments, critical genetic analysis of vacuole pigmentation will require cloned progeny and multiple-environment evaluation.     

Inheritance of flower color in Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev. (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) using cultivars and inbreds. I. Plastid pigmentation

Summary Progeny from controlled crosses of 28 garden chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev.) inbreds in various combinations as males with 3 heterozygous cultivars and 10 inbreds as females were evaluated for plastid pigmentation in a series of field and glasshouse environments. Disomic inheritance of a dominant gene, which acts to inhibit pigmentation, best explained the data. However, 1 of 8 families involving a glasshouse cultivar with colorless plastids (Puritan) as female and inbreds with yellow plastids as males deviated significantly from the expected 1:1 ratio. This family consistently exhibited an excess of plants with colorless plastids. Although parent clones and cloned progeny from inbred parents were scored the same in field and glasshouse environments, reevaluation in the field of all 8 Puritan families, first evaluated in a glasshouse environment, revealed phenotypic misclassification apparently due to environmental effects. An excess of plants with colorless plastids appeared in the glasshouse but evaluation of the same genotypes in the field resulted in an excess of plants having yellow plastids. Submerging ray florets in a hot-water bath revealed yellow plastids masked by vacuolar pigments, thus reducing chances of misclassification. The data suggest that evaluation of highly variable families in a single environment can lead to misclassification of plastid pigmentation. However, even with evaluation in 2 or more environments, certain families may exhibit an excess of plants with colorless plastids.     

Peroxidase isozyme differences in tall fescue cultivars and allopolyploid accessions

Summary The use of isoelectric focusing for the isozymic identification of cultivars and wild forms in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and determination of ploidy effects was investigated. Peroxidase zymograms from allopolyploid accessions (4x, 6x, 8x, and 10x, x=7) and randomly sampled plants of the cultivars Kenhy, Kentucky 31, and Missouri 96, were compared for band number, position, and staining intensity. There was little isozymic variation among plants in the tetraploid and hexaploid, but considerably more in the octoploid and decaploid members of the series. Yet no significant effects of ploidy on isozyme complexity or band number were observed. There were no consistent differences in band number, position, or frequencies among the three cultivars in spite of their diverse parentage. Isoclectric focusing can be used successfully in tall fescue, but the limited variability of the peroxidases encourages investigation of other isozyme systems in the future.Contribution from the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station. Journal Series No. 8627. Research supported by USDA-SEA Competitive Research Grant 5901-0410-9-0366-0.     

Inheritance of white flower colour and congested growth habit in certain Buddleia progenies

Summary Buddleia fallowiana var. alba (FA) was crossed with B. davidii Nanhoensis Alba (NA) and both were crossed with the B. davidii cultivars Pink Delight (PD) and Royal Red; seedlings from the FA x NA progeny were backcrossed to the two parents. The pattern of inheritance of white or coloured flowers indicates two loci controlling white flower colour. FA is homozygous for a recessive gene, labelled alb-1, and NA is heterozygous for a dominant gene, Alb-2.In most segregating progenies some of the white flowered seedlings had a congested habit of growth and this is tentatively ascribed to two dominant complementary genes. NA is heterozygous for Con-1, which is tightly linked with Alb-2. FA and PD are heterozygous for Con-2.     

Low light intensity and flower bud abortion in Asiatic hybrid lilies. I. Genetic variation among cultivars and progenies of a diallel cross

Summary When Asiatic lilies are forced during the winter period, additional light is needed to prevent flower bud abscission and flower bud blasting. Growth room experiments showed considerable differences among eight lily cultivars in their response to low light. Among these cultivars, Connecticut King and Enchantment appeared to be the most sensitive to low light conditions while Uncle Sam and Scout were the least sensitive.Analysis of an incomplete diallel cross between nine cultivars showed significant differences in general combining ability (GCA) for flower bud abortion, number of buds, forcing time, plant height and leaf scorch under winter greenhouse conditions. Enchantment had the highest positive GCA for bud abortion, indicating a high sensitivity to low light conditions. Uncle Sam had the lowest GCA. Pirate and Scout appeared to have a high GCA for sensitivity to leaf scorch. Connecticut King was found to be a probable source of cytoplasmic male sterility. The data suggest that male sterility is associated with better response to low light conditions.     

Ineffectiveness of wrapped flower in inhibiting cross-fertilization in pigeonpea

Summary The wrapped flower character has been reported to inhibit out-crossing in pigeonpea in Australia. However, one of the wrapped flower lines gave an average of about 16% out-crossing at ICRISAT Center near Hyderabad, India. This level of out-crossing was not different from that in cultivars having normal (unwrapped) flowers. This suggests that the wrapped flower trait is not a dependable character for reducing out-crossing in pigeonpea.ICRISAT Journal Article No. 578.     

Genetic analysis of cut flower longevity in Gerbera

Summary The vase life duration and stem stiffness of 12 parent clones and 77 progenies of Gerbera jamesonii were studied both in summer and in winter. In winter, vase life was shorter and the stems were weak. Few exceptions from this general pattern were detected. The average vase life duration ranged from 16.0 days for the best to 8.9 days for the worst progeny. Individual plants were selected with a vase life of 20 or more days.The curvature of the stem, measured after 24 hrs dry storage, is associated with the folding of the stem in the vase. Selection for low curvature may decrease the incidence of folding and with it the variation in vase life of Gerbera.     

Methods for selecting flower quality based on consumer evaluation

Summary The quality ranking of a sample of Gerbera cut-flowers varies greatly from one person to another. Further, there are significant differences between the rankings assigned by a panel of trained horticulturalists and a panel sampled from the general public. Therefore, the selection of a panel to evaluate the flower quality component of a breeding program is very important to the outcome. If the purpose of a program is to breed (those) flowers preferred by the general public then the selection of flowers should be done by a panel sampled from the general public. The prediction of consumer preferences by multiple linear regression techniques using eleven flower characters was not successful. Much greater predictive value was obtained by measuring the perceived information content of flowers. This indicates that flower characteristics which increase flower complexity may be preferred. Implications to the practical breeding program are discussed.     

Inheritance and agronomic performance of an apetalous flower mutant in Brassica napus L

A spontaneous mutant with apetalous flowers was obtained from a hybrid progeny in Brassica napus. The result of genetic analysis showed that the apetalous character was controlled by only one gene locus, petalous flower exhibited incomplete dominance over apetalous flower and that its expression was not affected by cytoplasmic factors. Sixteen agronomically important characteristics of the apetalous line Apet33-10 were compared with those of its petalled near-isogenic line Pet33-10. Results from 4 years of tests indicated that there was no difference between Apet33-10 and Pet33-10 in all tested agronomic characteristics, except for the pod number of main inflorescence and second-order branches at low sclerotinia disease incidence. The Sclerotinia sclerotiorum disease severity index of Apet33-10 was significantly lower than that of Pet33-10, and correspondingly, the plot yield of Apet33-10 was increased obviously in comparison to that of Pet33-10 if sclerotinia disease was serious. The pod number of main inflorescence of Apet33-10 was significantly lower than that of Pet33-10. On the other hand, the pod number of second-order branches of Apet33-10 was significantly higher than that of Pet33-10, hence no overage difference of the pod number per plant was observed between the two lines.     

The mechanism of increased seed fertility accompanied with the change of flower colour in Brassicoraphanus

Summary In Brassicoraphanus (amphidiploids between Brassica japonica Sieb. and Raphanus sativus L.), yellow-flowered plants that occurred among originally white-flowered plants showed an increased seed fertility. It is assumed that the gene Y (yellow-flower gene) from Brassica and the gene W (white-flower gene) from Raphanus are located at corresponding loci of only partially homologous chromosomes. W is dominant (epistatic) over Y. The normal white-flowered plants have the genotype YYWW. A YYYW-plant was found, which is assumed to have arisen through crossing-over following multivalent formation. In the progeny of this plant, yellow-flowered plants (YYYY) as well as white-flowered plants (YYWW, YYYW) appeared. The gene for flower colour is closely linked to a gene which controls the development of embryos (or endosperm). This gene promotes the development of embryos in homozygous condition. Therefore, the embryo having only the yellow-flower gene can develop more easily into viable seed than the embryo having the white-flower gene. It is also possible that the sterility of white-flowered plants is caused by a discordance between the cytoplasm of Brassica and W (or genes linked to W) of Raphanus.     

Genetic analysis of flower and lateral shoot production in Gerbera

Summary An incomplete diallel cross with selfs and reciprocals was made with twelve cultivars of Gerbera jamesonii. Very significant differences occurred between GCA's of the parents for cut flower yield, earliness and number of lateral shoots. The selfs were mainly responsible for the significant SCA's.A positive genetic correlation occurs between the number of lateral shoots at anthesis of the first flower and total flower production. The phenotypic performance of parents (measured on cuttings) was poorly related to their breeding value (measured on seedlings). It is suggested that this is due to physiological differences between cuttings and seedlings.     

Diversity of flower colours in Rhododendron simsii Planch. and prospects for breeding

Summary A survey of the flower colours present in evergreen azaleas, Rhododendron simsii Planch is given. The following colours occur: white, red, carmine red, pink, purple and lilac. Crosses can lead to greater diversity although no really new shades have resulted. Quantitative anthocyanin and flavonol determinations for the cultivars enable us to gain an insight into the possiblities of increasing these contents and thus obtaining new colours. The prospects of breeding for intensely red, yellow and blue cultivars are also reviewed.     

Morphological and physiological characters affecting flower drop and fruit set of tomatoes at high temperatures

Summary Seven tomato cultivars and lines were studied under high temperature conditions. Fruit set varied between 77.3% in the heat tolerant cv. Hotset, 62% in cv. Gamad and 16.3% in the most sensitive cv. Hosen-Eilon. The characters contributing to low fruit set were bud drop, splitting of the antheridial cone, style exsertion and reduction of the quantity and/or functionality of the gametes. Employing the above characters as criteria for selection, fruit set of an F₄ line, phenotypically similar to the sensitive parent, was improved to 63.1%. Improved fruit set, 87.6%, was also obtained in an F₁ hybrid between Hotset and Gamad. The importance is discussed of various easily recognizable flower components contributing to satisfactory fruit set under high temperatures and their possible use in breeding is elaborated.     

The inheritance of flower doubleness and nectary spur in Pelargonium x hortorum Bailey

Summary The formation of single flowers of 5 petals and 5 sepals is determined by the homozygous recessive state, dd, of the doubleness gene, D/d, which is epistatic to modifying genes determining flower type. In the presence of the dominant allele, i.e. genotypes DD or Dd, the flowers are semi-double or double. Owing to the D allele alone, the single frequency of 5 petals and 5 sepals is doubled to 10 petals and 10 sepals, of which up to 5 are petaloid, to give a semi-double flower. In addition, in the presence of the D allele, three modifying loci M1/m1, M2/m2, and M3/m3 are activated to give a series of distinct doubles with integral multiples of the basic perianth number. The homozygous recessive genes m1m1 and m2m2 both add an increment of 10 perianth parts, and m3m3 adds an increment of 20 perianth parts. In heterozygotes, M1m1, M2m2 and M3m3, the dominant alleles inhibit the incremental effect of their corresponding recessive alleles. The single flower cultivars investigated probably have the genotype dd, M1M1, M2M2, M3M3 and the semi-double cultivars the genotype Dd, M1m1, M2M2, M3M3.The single flowers have a nectariferous spur, characteristic of the genus, adnate to the pedicel. As the spur is absent from semi-double and double flowers, its presence is assumed to be either a pleiotropic effect of the single flower gene, or to be controlled by an unidentified gene tightly linked with it.     

The inheritance of flower colour and vegetative characters in Rubus coreanus

Summary Dominant genes An ₁ for pink flower colour and Br ₁ and Br ₂ controlling branching of the canes in Rubus coreanus are described. In an F₁ progeny and in first backcrosses to red raspberry, some seedlings inherited the ability of R. coreanus to form up to three accessory buds per node. Polygenic systems controlling spine number and spine size are described, number and size being positively correlated. It is postulated that the greater size of spines of h (glabrous-caned) plants is due to linkage of a block of size-controlling genes with the H locus. The greater number of spines of H (hairy-caned) plants is attributed to a pleiotropic effect of the H allele. A new type of dwarf, cauli-flower, which occurred in the F₁ and some first backcross progenies, is described.     

Models of inheritance of flower colour and extra petals in Potentilla fruticosa L.

Summary Inheritance models for flower colour and extra petals in Potentilla fruticosa L. were developed by conducting controlled crosses between different cultivars and advanced selections. Parents were crossed in all combinations and floral character segregation of progenies were recorded. Preliminary models for flower colour include two whitening genes (W₁ and W₂) and two yellowing genes (Y₁ and Y₂) with the action of a bleaching gene also implicated. The cyanic flower colour model developed involves background petal colour, cyanic pigments and distribution and temperature sensitivity genes. The extra petals model involves a two gene switch, D₁ and D₂ to turn on the production of up to five extra petals and a modifier gene, D_m that accounts for an additional one to five extra petals. Either D₁ or D₂ must be recessive to initiate extra petal production. D_m must also be recessive to enable production of an additional 1–5 petals.     

Genetics of flower colour in China aster (Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees)

Summary The genetics of flower colours violet, blue, deep pink, pink, light pink, creamy white and white was investigated in 17 cross combinations involving 10 parents in China aster (Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees). Violet was dominant over all other colours; blue was dominant over creamy white; deep pink was dominant over pink and white, but incompletely dominant over light pink and pink was dominant over light pink and white. Four genes C, R, B and P were found to govern these different flower colours. The gene P had a dominant allele P^D and a recessive allele p.Contribution No. 146/88 of the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore 56080, India.     

Selection of hybrid tea-rose seedlings for cut flower yield

Summary In a three year's trial in the greenhouse, flower yields of seedling Hybrid Tea-roses both on their own roots and on a rootstock were recorded. Seedlings on their own roots yield similarly to plants on a rootstock. Highly significant correlations were found annually between the two categories. A selection method for potential yield on the basis of the first year's yield of seedlings on their own roots, is described. Particularly in combination with selection for flower quality this method saves time, labour and space.     

Inheritance of flower pigments in tulip (Tulipa L.)

Summary In order to investigate the inheritance of flower colour in tulips, seven cultivars were crossed and selfed in a diallel. Of these parents and their F₁'s the relative amounts of carotenoids, delphinidin, cyanidin, pelargonidin, quercetin and kaempferol were determined.For delphinidin, quercetin and daempferol only additive gene action was determined, and for carotenoids, cyanidin and pelargonidin also non-additive gene action and plasmic differences.Biosynthesis of delphinidin and pelargonidin was only found when cyanidin was present, while synthesis of delphinidin and pelargonidin was antagonistic.