Patterns and heritability of carboxylic acids and soluble sugars in fruits of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)

The investigation of acid and sugar content in an array of apricot cultivars and progenies indicates the existence of marked variability. Citric acid varied from 0.17 to 1.20% and malic acid from 0.21 to 1.51% on fresh weight. Fructose varied from 0.27 to 1.60%, glucose from 0.90 to 3.13% and sucrose from 1.92 to 6.92%. The estimate of heritability was high for total and main sugars, reaching over 0.50%. Acids generally showed low coefficients, although those for citric (0.27) and malic (0.36) were good. With the exception of one progeny, all genotype/year comparisons were not significant, showing constant patterns for acid and sugars over the years regardless of the variability in absolute values. This means that the patterns of each genotype are under genetic control. The wide range of diversity in acid and sugar content in apricot germplasm and the independent heritability for most of these compounds make it possible to breed and select cultivars with improved flavour on the basis of superior phenotypes.     

Genetic diversity in apricot cultivars based on AFLP markers

A set of cultivars used as genitors in apricot breeding programs aimed at introducing sharka resistance were examined by AFLP molecular marker analysis. The markers obtained indicated that apricot cultivars resistant to sharka were related to the European cultivars, but they potentially share a common ancestor donor of sharka outside of the European group. Segregation of AFLP and RAPD markers has been tested in two progenies of two crosses, one between a resistant and a susceptible cultivar and one between two susceptible accessions. The heterozygozity of families obtained from crosses between resistant and susceptible cultivars is similar to those obtained from other self-incompatible Prunus species. On the other hand, heterozygosity of a progeny obtained from a cross between European susceptible cultivars was very low. The usefulness of the information provided by AFLPs for apricot breeding programs is discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phenotypic diversity and relationships of fruit quality traits in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) germplasm

Fruit quality attributes were studied for two consecutive years in forty-three apricot cultivars and selections grown in a Mediterranean climate. Physical parameters (weight, size, flesh and skin colour, percentage of blush, firmness and percentage of dry matter), chemical parameters (total soluble solids content and acidity) and sensory parameters (attractiveness, taste, aroma and texture) were evaluated. A high variability was found in the set of the evaluated apricot genotypes and significant differences were found among them in all studied quality attributes. Year-by-year variations were observed for some pomological traits such as harvest date, flesh colour, fruit weight, firmness and soluble solids content. A high correlation was found among some apricot quality attributes. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) made it possible to establish similar groups of genotypes depending on their quality characteristics as well as to study relationships among pomological traits in the set of apricot genotypes evaluated.     

Inheritance of tree and fruit characters in progenies from crosses of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars

Summary Approximately 1000 seedlings from 20 combinations crossed in 1979, 1980 and 1981 (Theiler-Hedtrich 1985a) were tested for several characters: fruit set (yield), fruit size, fruit colour, formation of abscission layer and bleeding after fruit removal from fruit stalks, bacterial canker resistance, flowering and harvesting time. From progeny of crosses with Stella as pollinator, 56% (Vittoria × Stella) and 46% (Schüttler × Stella) of the seedlings were self-compatible, of which 14 were high yielding with good fruit size and quality. From the data recorded it can be concluded:fruit set is a recessive character; only 5 to 20% of very good yielding seedlings were obtained in different progeny, even if the parental plants were both very good croppers.Fruit juice and skin colour was in most progenies ‘black’ even if they were from combinations with ‘white’ varieties, e.g., Merton Glory or Schüttler. Only from the combination Schiittler (‘white’) × Stella (‘black’), 50% of the seedlings were ‘white’; Stella therefore is heterozygous for the character of fruit juice and skin colour.Fruit size is evenly distributed in progeny with respect to the fruit size of their parent plants.Abscission layer formation and non-bleeding is a genetically complex character. In combinations where both parent plants formed fruits with complete abscission layers and which were not bleeding after fruit removal from the stalk, this character was inherited only to 50% (Vittoria × Schüttler) or 85% (Vittoria × Frühe von der Weid) in the progeny. For the genetical control of this character further studies are necessary.Bacterial canker susceptibility was evenly distributed in seedlings from all combinations even if the highly resistant cv. Vittoria was used as one parent plant, thereby not confirming the expected results of a higher proportion of resistant seedlings from combinations with Vittoria.Flowering and harvest time of the seedlings from different combinations was within the range of the parent plants. Only in the combination of Vittoria × Stella (mid-to late-ripening season) one seedling out of 99 was found to form ripe fruits two weeks earlier than the parental plants. From the seedlings tested 40 have been chosen for further evaluation or genetical studies.     

Heat tolerance for yield and its components in different wheat cultivars

Summary Twenty one diverse, standard and experimental cultivars of common spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were tested for the effect of heat stress on phenology, yield and its components by growing the materials for 2 years under full irrigation during the hot summer (offseason), and the cool winter (normal) conditions. Heat tolerance was estimated for each variable by the heat susceptibility index (S) which scales the reduction in cultivar performance from cool to hot conditions relative to the respective mean reduction over all cultivars.Genotypes differed significantly in S for yield and its components. The ranking of cultivars in S over the 2 years was consistent for yield, kernels per spike and kernel weight, but not for spike number. Of the three yield components, the greatest genotypic variation in S was expressed for kernels per spike. However, S for yield could not be simply attributed to S in a unique component across all cultivars. On the other hand, a general linear model regression of summer yield on its components revealed that the most important yield component affecting yield variation among cultivars under heat stress was kernel number per spike. Kernel number per spike was positively associated across cultivars with longer duration and greater stabilty of thermal time requirement from emergence to double ridge. It is therefore concluded that kernel number per spike under heat stress is a reasonable estimate of heat tolerance in yield of wheat and that this tolerance is operative already during the first 2 to 3 weeks of growth.     

New self-incompatibility alleles in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) revealed by stylar ribonuclease assay and S-PCR analysis

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) shows gametophytic self-incompatibility controlled by a single locus with several allelic variants. An allele for self-compatibility (S_C) and seven alleles for self-incompatibility (S₁–S₇) were described previously. Our experiments were carried out to ascertain whether the number of allelic variants of apricot S-locus was indeed so small. Twenty-seven apricot accessions were analysed for stylar ribonucleases by non-equilibrium pH gradient electrofocusing (NEpHGE) to determine their S-genotype. To validate the results of electrofocusing, the applicability of the S-gene-specific consensus PCR primers designed from sweet cherry sequences was tested. NEpHGE revealed 12 bands associated with distinct S-alleles in newly genotyped cultivars. Cherry consensus primers amplified 11 alleles out from 16 ones, which indicated that these primers could also recognize most of the S-RNase sequences in apricot, and provided an efficient tool to confirm or reject NEpHGE results. By combining the protein and DNA-based methods, complete or partial S-genotyping was achieved for 23 apricot accessions and nine putatively new alleles (provisionally labelled S₈–S₁₆) were found. Their identity needs to be confirmed by pollination tests or S-allele sequencing. This study provides evidence that similarly to other Prunus species, the S-locus of apricot is more variable than previously believed.     

Inheritance and selection of some fruit characters of apple. II. The relation between leaf and fruit pH as a basis for preselection

Summary The leaf pH of two year old apple seedlings was found to be sufficiently related to the fruit pH, measured when the seedlings were six to seven years old, to serve as a basis for pre-selection. Discarding all seedlings with an above average leaf pH (40% of the total) eliminated the majority (74%) of seedling with low-acid cum sweet fruits. The method was not effective for reducing the proportion of seedlings with high-acid cum sour fruits.     

Methods for evaluating fruit characters and incorporation in a final index in the Norwegian pear breeding programme

Summary In the Norwegian pear breeding programme selection is based on evaluation of 20 fruit samples together with field observations of precocity, productivity and resistance to biotic and abiotic factors. Fruit weight is recorded in grams, and then transformed to a scale of 20 gram classes. Appearance, shelf life and flavour are recorded on a 0 to 9 scale, and observations of shelf life and flavour are made at 4 defined intervals following ripening at 20 °C. The final index is made by summarizing the scores of fruit size and appearance, mean score of internal breakdown, mean score of flavour, maximum score of flavour and scores of precocity, productivity and resistance. All parameters, except mean flavour, are given a weighting of one, mean fruit flavour is given a weighting of 2. Data for 160 seedlings evaluated in 1992 is presented.     

Variance component analysis of plant architectural traits and fruit yield in melon

Summary  A cross was made between a unique highly branched, early flowering line, U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 846-1 (P_1; 7 to 11 lateral branches), and ‘Topmark’ (P₂; 2 to 4 lateral branches), a U.S. Western Shipping melon, to produce an array of 119 F₃ families. Subsequently, a genetic analysis was conducted at Arlington and Hancock, Wisconsin in 2001 to evaluate the segregating progeny for factors likely involved in yield-formation, including days to anthesis, percentage of plants with early pistillate flowering, primary branch number, fruit number and weight per plant, average weight per fruit, percentage of plants with predominantly crown fruit set, and percentage of plants with early maturing fruit. Although, genotype × environment (G × E) interactions were important for some traits (e.g., fruit number and fruit weight), considerable additive and/or dominance variance was detected for all traits. This research provides critical data associated with highly branched melon germplasm including trait correlations and heritabilies (broad- and narrow-sense ranged between 0.28 and 0.91) that used judiciously will allow the development high yielding melon cultivars with early, basally concentrated fruit suitable for once-over or machine harvesting operations.     

Independence of self-compatibility and potentiality for self-pollination in peach x almond hybrids

Summary The almond of commerce (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb) is self-incompatible (SI) and requires honey-bees to effect the transfer of pollen among cultivars that flower simultaneously. Four year old trees from the F₂ generation of several peach x almond hybrids were studied to determine whether self-compatibility (SC) and the potentiality for natural, i.e., abiotic, self pollination (NSP) are genetically related or are inherited independently. Both SC and the high potentiality for NSP are characteristic of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) but not almond. Forty percent of SC genotypes exhibited adequate NSP (SC, +NSP) for good fertility i.e., without insect-mediated pollination. The remaining 60% of SC genotypes (SC,-NSP) exhibited an average 61% reduction in fruit set on limbs bagged to exclude honeybees during anthesis relative to fruit set on open pollinated limbs. Our data are consistent with the concept that fertility is dependent upon the load of compatible pollen deposited on the stigma. Fruit set reduction on bagged limbs, compared with bagged and self-pollinated limbs, was presumably due to a) lack of/insufficient pollination for fertilization and/or b) post-zygotic abortion of genetically inferior recombinants. Selection following manual self-pollination may result in SC genotypes with or without the capacity for NSP. In contrast, significant fruit set on limbs enclosed during pistil receptivity necessitates that the genotype selected express both SC and the potentiality for NSP.     

Inheritance of taste characters and fruit size and number in a diploid Actinidia chinensis (kiwifruit) population

We investigated the variability and inheritance of taste components and fruit size and number in a seedling population of diploid Actinidia chinensisPlanch. We found significant variation in all characters measured. Narrow-sense heritability estimates were high for vitamin C content, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids content (SSC), fruit weight and dry matter content (DM), but low for glucose content, quinic acid content, and fruit number per vine. The genetic correlations between sugars (except myo-inositol), acids (except quinic acid), TA, vitamin C content, SSC and DM tended to be positive and moderate to high. However, correlations between these characters and fruit weight tended to be negative and moderate to high. The standardised coefficients () of multiple regression showed that SSC was highly dependent on the levels of fructose content, sucrose content and TA. Estimates of relative selection efficiencies (E) suggested that selection using SSC could be an efficient and convenient alternative to direct selection for improvement of sugar levels in kiwifruit. However, selection strategies based on SSC need to take account of its moderate negative correlation with fruit weight. Male and female parents useful for improving acid and sugar composition and fruit size were identified. One family was outstanding, as it combined large fruit size with high levels of SSC and DM.     

Osmoregulation in birdseed millet under conditions of water stress II. Variation in F3 lines of Setaria italica and its relationship to plant morphology and yield

We report, for the first time, there generation of four homozygous lines in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) byin situ parthenogenesis followed by embryo and cotyledon culture. The sweet cherry cultivar ‘Altenburger’ was pollinated with marked pollen irradiated by γ-rays at doses ranging from 250 to1200 Gy. Pollination with such irradiated pollen affected fruit set and the quality of the embryos, and induced the formation of parthenogenic embryos. The immature embryos extracted from the stones, 35 or 75days after pollination, were cultivatedin vitro in an embryo or cotyledon culture. Although flow cytometrical analysis demonstrated the diploid level for all regenerants, four lines could be characterized as homozygous using isoenzyme analysis. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Performance of Solanum habrochaites LA1777 introgression line hybrids for marketable tomato fruit yield in Asia

Wild relatives of the cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) are major sources of new genetic diversity for tomato improvement. Introgression lines (IL) are near-isogenic lines homozygous for one or several mapped wild DNA fragments in a common recurrent parent. A set of ILs developed by Cornell University from Solanum habrochaites accession LA1777 and recurrent parent E6203 has been made publicly available through the Tomato Genetics Resource Center of the University of California-Davis. Our objective was to identify LA1777 introgressions with potential to increase the marketable fruit yield of tomato grown in the tropics. A subset of ILs were each crossed to CLN2498E (resistant to bacterial wilt and some begomoviruses) to create IL hybrids (ILH). ILH, IL recurrent parent E6203, CLN2498E, and CLN2498E × E6203 (Hchk) were evaluated in replicated trials in Thailand, India, and Taiwan during two dry seasons. Highly significant effects for marketable fruit yield were detected in Thailand and Taiwan. ILH heterozygous for S. habrochaites segments at the bottom of chromosome 1 yielded about 20% than the Hchk at Thailand and Taiwan. Our results agree with previous results from Cornell University researchers who found a segment of S. habrochaites DNA located between TG158 and TG27 associated with increased total fruit yield in previous trials conducted in upper state New York. Yield improvement due to this S. habrochaites introgression can occur over a wide range of environments.     

Inheritance of resistance to fruit rot (Phytophthora capsici Leon.) and induction of resistance in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Summary Fruit rot in bell pepper caused by Phytopthora capsici Leon. is a limiting factor in its commercial production. Crosses were made between Waxy Globe, a small fruited hot type, resistant to fruit rot and four highly susceptible bell pepper commercial cultivars (Chinese Giant, California Wonder, Osh, Kosh and Yolo Wonder). Studies of the F₁'s, F₂'s and backcrosses indicated that Waxy Globe carries a dominant gene imparting resistance to fruit rot. After three backcrosses with California Wonder, lines were obtained combining the resistance gene of Waxy Globe with the large fruit size and low capsaicin of California Wonder.     

Screening fruit tree genetic resources in Belgium for disease resistance and other desirable characters

Summary The wide diversity of old fruit-tree cultivars originating or introduced into Belgium during the 18 ^th and 19 ^th centuries was collected as far as feasible over the last fifteen years at the State Plant Pathology Station in Gembloux. Out of the 2400 accessions now collected, one quarter was recovered from old public collections, and three quarters came from farms or gardens. The initial intention was to screen the material for disease resistance and other characters of agronomic interest with a view to using the best cultivars as breeding parents. However, as the collection developed, genetic resources conservation also became an objectiveper se. The collection presently contains 1150 apple, 850 pear and 300 plum accessions, and smaller numbers of other fruit species. Each accession is evaluated in an experimental orchard for at least ten years. In view of the growing public interest in old fruit-tree cultivars, the Plant Pathology Station has for several years been releasing to the nursery trade the better cultivars emerging from the evaluation, namely nine apple and four plum cultivars, and one peach cultivar. The principal features of the apple cultivars are presented in this paper. Since 1988, old apple and plum cultivars have been being used at the Station as parents in a breeding programme, with both controlled and open pollination. In some instances, old apple cultivars have also been crossed with a modern parent carrying the Vf gene for scab resistance. The preliminary observations on some of these seedlings are presented.     

Localization ability,latent period and wilting rate in eleven carnation cultivars with partial resistance to Fusarium wilt

Summary The latent periods, wilting rates and percentages of diseased plants were analyzed for 11 carnation cultivars after root and after stem inoculation with race 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianth. There was no conclusive evidence for the presence of an independent extravascular resistance mechanism, except for Lena plants in which, additional to the vascular resistance components, independent root-bound factors causing retardation of the colonization and wilting process were found. A large variation was observed in the ablity of the cultivars to localize the pathogen in the vascular tissue shortly after infection of the xylem. This ability was positively correlated with the latent period, and negatively with the wilting rate and final disease index. In resistant cultivars, secondary compartmentalization of the fungus higher up in the stem was also observed. After stem inoculation, differences among the cultivars in localization ability and wilt-retarding actors could be identified at an early stage by comparing the precentages of non-colonized plants or the percentages of plants lacking vascular discolouration.     

Challenges of breeding potato cultivars to grow in various environments and to meet different demands

The potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is cultivated all year round in Japan by using four types of cropping: summer and winter croppings, and double cropping in spring and fall. In each cropping season, growth conditions such as temperature, day length, and growing period, differ drastically; thus, different cultivars adapted to each environment are required. Breeding stations are located in both summer cropping areas and double cropping areas, and cultivars suitable for each cropping system are developed. The required cultivars differ according to cropping type and according to use such as table use, food processing, and starch production. The qualities necessary for each purpose differ and are therefore evaluated accordingly. Improvements in pest and disease resistance and in yield abilities are important as common breeding targets for all purposes. To develop potato cultivars that meet different needs, breeders have continued efforts to improve these traits. In this review, we introduce our approaches to developing new potato cultivars. We also discuss problems predicted in the future and introduce our efforts on broadening genetic diversity.     

Genetic parameters for nut and kernel traits in macadamia

Data from a trial of 40 cultivars clonallyreplicated over five locations were used to estimatebroad-sense heritability and genetic and phenotypiccorrelations for important nut and kernel traits inmacadamia (Macadamia integrifolia and M.tetraphylla). Location averages for each cultivarwere available from 4 to 10 years after planting fornut mass, kernel mass, kernel recovery, percentage1^st grade kernels and percentage whole kernels,with individual tree measurements only available forone year. Heritability estimated from locationaverages was inflated for all traits due tounderestimation of the phenotypic variance. Un-confounded estimates of individual broad-senseheritability, obtained by combining information fromboth data sources, was high (H = 0.63) fornut and kernel mass, and kernel recovery, moderatefor percentage whole kernels (H 0.30) and low for percentage 1^stgrade kernel (H 0.20). There waslittle interaction between cultivar and location orage; however, for percentage 1^st grade and wholekernels, there were large 3-way and 4-wayinteractions. The only strong genetic correlation wasbetween nut and kernel mass (r _g = 0.80). Theimplications of the results for cultivar selection andbreeding programs are discussed.     

Heterosis in CMS hybrids of cotton for photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters

Summary The characterization of photosynthetic, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and yield and yield components was compared between two newly developed CMS cotton hybrids (H1, H2) and their parents, as well as currently planted hybrid and conventional cultivars (C1, artificially produced hybrid CCRI 29 and C2, conventional cultivar CCRI 12) under the field condition. The results showed that P_n, F_v/F_m, Φ_PSII and qP of hybrids was significantly higher than that of C1 and C2. Furthermore, heterosis was found on photosynthetic parameters in hybrids over their parents at the first four growth stages, while only heterosis over mean of parents (HOMP) was detected in chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. It was clearly shown that one male-sterile line M2 was higher than the hybrids in F_v/F_m, Φ_PSII and qP over all growth stages. Significantly positive correlations (P < 0.01) were found between LAI or Yield and P_n, C_s, T_r, F_v/F_m, Φ_PSII, or qP, while significantly negative correlations between C_i and LAI or Yield, and no significance between qN and Chl a, C_s and qP were found. It was concluded that CMS hybrid cottons showed better potential to maintain relatively higher photosynthetic ability during the growth, which contributes to the increased lint yield.