Results in the Development of Alloplasmic Carrots (Daucus carota sativus Hoffm.)

Alloplasmic forms of the cultivated carrot, Daucus carota sativus Hoffm., were created by substitution backcrosses. The wild Daucus forms D. muricatus L., D. gingidium L., D. c. gummifer Hook, and D. c. libanotifolia Wiinst. were used as cytoplasm donors. In the first two backcross generations disturbances in fertility and plant physiology did not occur. The plants of the generations BC₂F₂ and BC₂F₃ look like cultivated carrots. The alloplasmic forms were compared with cultivars for economic traits such as yield and yield components. The high content of total sugar in the alloplasmic forms was considerable. A new type of male sterility was found and described in a BC₃F₂ generation of the cross D. c. gummifer× D. c. sativus. Results of RFLP-analyses of mt-DNA and cp-DNA were discussed.