Pear (Pyrus Species) Genetic Resources in Iwate, Japan |
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Authors: | Hironori Katayama Chiyomi Uematsu |
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Institution: | (1) Food Resources Education and Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Kobe University, 675-2103 Hyogo, Japan;(2) Botanical Gardens, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, 576-0004 Osaka, Japan |
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Abstract: | Iwateyamanashi (Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. var. aromatica (Nakai et Kikuchi) Rehd.) is one of the Pyrus species grown wild in Japan. The origin of the Japanese pear (P. pyrifolia) is uncertain but it has been suggested that Iwateyamanashi is the possible progenitor of the modern Japanese cultivar. During
the last few decades, the number of Iwateyamanashi trees has been decreasing and therefore, conservation is urgently needed.
After 13 explorations in the northern Tohoku region of Japan, 615 pear trees and 30 local names were recognized mainly in
Iwate Prefecture. The center of the distribution seemed to be somewhere around Mt. Hayachine to the northern area of Kitakami
highlands (from lat. 39 °20′ to 40 °10′N, and from long. 141 °20′ to 141 °50′E). Four morphological characters concerning
fruit shape, measured for 85 trees, showed a wide range of continuous variation. For the skin colour of fruit, 51% of trees
bore russet type fruits, 22% smooth and 27% intermediate ones. Most of the fruits had five loculi but Sanenashi fruits (seedless
pear), one of the old cultivars, had three, and fruits of another two trees had four. More than 80% of trees tended to produce
fruits with a calyx but some trees bore fruits without a calyx. These observations indicate a wide range of genetic diversity
in Pyrus species which is caused, not only by high heterogeneity in Iwateyamanashi itself, but also by the coexistence of Iwateyamanashi,
P. pyrifolia (Burm.) Nakai and hybrid progeny in this area. Already 250 trees have been conserved as genetic resources by grafting at
Kobe University. |
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Keywords: | Distribution Diversity Genetic resources Iwateyamanashi Pear Pyrus ussuriensis var aromatica |
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