Past and present role of the Indian-fig prickly-pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller, Cactaceae) in the agriculture of sicily
Of prickly-pear cacti occurring in Sicily, the most widespread and economically important is Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. In Sicily it has, since its introduction, played an important role in the exploitation of marginal areas. The Sicilian experience is described with reference to the historical outlines and the present intensive production of late fruit. Information on historical and actual uses of the plant and its products (flowers, cladodes, fruits) is given.
Genetic Distinctiveness Highlights the Conservation Value of a Sicilian Manna Ash Germplasm Collection Assigned to Fraxinus angustifolia (Oleaceae)
The cosmopolitan genus Fraxinus comprises about 40 species occupying several habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. With some species hybridizing and sharing genetic variants, questions remain on the species assignment of germplasm within the genus Fraxinus despite numerous species-specific assessments. A multidisciplinary approach was employed to provide a definitive insight into the genetics of an endangered Fraxinus &ldquo
Metabolic profiling and post-harvest behavior of “dottato” fig (Ficus carica L.) fruit covered with an edible coating from O. ficus-indica
Fig fruits are usually highly sensitive to some physiopathological disorders during post-harvest life, such as softening and skin cracking. Indeed, the use of edible coating (EC) has been evaluated in several fruit crops to reduce fruit post-harvest transpiration and to maintain fruit visual quality. The aim of this study was to determine the post-harvest metabolic response of breba figs treated with mucilage extract from O. ficus-indica cladodes, using an untargeted metabolomic approach. Coated and non coated (control) fruit were sealed in plastic bags, and stored at 4 °C for 7 days. The effect of the edible coatings on their quality fruit during cold storage and qualitative attributes wer…
Potential use of new diphenylurea derivatives in micropropagation of Capparis spinosa L.
A protocol for in vitro multiplication of caper (Capparis spinosa L. subsp. rupestris) from nodal segments collected from mature plants was developed. For shoot multiplication, one auxin (indol-3-butyric acid, IBA) and cytokinins of two different classes were used: the N6-substituted adenine derivatives 6-benzylamino purine (BAP), and the two synthetic phenylurea derivatives N-phenyl-N′-benzothiazol-6-ylurea (PBU) and N-phenyl-N′-(1,2,3-thidiazol-5-yl) urea (thidiazuron, TDZ). Maximum shoot production was achieved from explants cultured with the adeninic cytokinin BAP (4 μM) and the auxin IBA (0.5 μM). New shoots longer than 1 cm were used for rooting. To induce root formation, three auxins…
Molecular markers reflect differentiation of Fusarium oxysporum forma speciales on tomato and forma on eggplant
Selective pressure induces pathogens to change their method of infection and, sometimes, causes species to become infectious. Pathogenic fungi must differentiate different morphological and physiological properties during the process of host specialization in their life cycle. In the present study, we conducted a genetic investigation and compared similarities within a generation of Fusarium oxysporum forma speciales (f. sp.) infecting tomato and forma (f.) infecting eggplants using selected ISSR and RAPD markers, two horticultural commodities belonging to the same taxon of the Solanaceae. Interestingly, genetic data showed that fungi belonging to F. oxysporum f. sp. infecting tomato have a…
Pheno-morphological, agronomic and genetic diversity among natural populations of sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) collected in Sicily, Italy
Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) is a short-lived perennial forage legume that plays a key role in cereal-based systems in semi-arid Mediterranean regions, particularly in organic production and low-input oriented agriculture. In Sicily, the species is widespread both as a wild and cultivated plant. The present study assessed the phenotypic and genetic variation among natural populations of sulla collected from different environments throughout Sicily and analysed how the patterns of phenotypic diversity varied according to the environmental parameters of each collection site. Two commercial varieties and two Sicilian agro-ecotypes were also included in the study as controls. Principal compo…
Inflorescence scents of Calendula maritima, C. suffruticosa subsp. fulgida, and their hybrid
Premise of research. Hybridization is an important driver of plant evolutionary processes. By attracting the same pollinators to different species, floral scents may be involved in the formation of hybrids and breakdown of species boundaries. In contrast, by attracting a different suite of pollinators to hybrids and their parents, floral scents are believed to contribute to speciation processes initiated by hybridization events. Scents may or may not differ between the hybrids and their parents, but little is known about the scent chemistry of parental species and their hybrids. Methodology. We studied the inflorescence scents of parental Calendula maritima and C. suffruticosa subsp. fulgid…
In vitro plant regeneration of caper (Capparis spinosa L.) from floral explants and genetic stability of regenerants
A new technique to regenerate caper plants (Capparis spinosa L. subsp. rupestris) starting from flower explant is reported. In vitro plant regeneration was attempted using stigma, anthers and unfertilized ovules of unopened flowers collected in the field. Plant regeneration was achieved from unfertilized ovules on MS medium supplemented with 88 mM sucrose and 13 lM 6-benzyladenine (BA). New individuals obtained from unfertilized ovules were used as source material for micropropagation and multiple shoots were obtained on MS medium sup- plemented with the adeninic cytokinin BA and the auxin indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Explants obtained in micro- propagation step were used for rooting step u…
Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from pistil thin cell layers of Citrus
Callus induction, somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were obtained in six different citrus species [Citrus deliciosa Ten. (cv 'Avana'), C.limon (L.) Burm. (cv 'Berna'), C.madurensis Lour. (cv 'CNR P9'), C.medica L. (cv 'Cedro di Trabia'), C.tardiva Hort. ex Tan. (cv 'CNR P6'), C.sinensis (L.) Osb. (cv 'Ugdulena 7')] from cultures of pistil transverse thin cell layer explants [(t)TCL]. Explants were cultured on three different media: the nutrients and vitamins of Murashige and Skoog medium alone (MS) or MS supplemented with either 500 mg l(-1) malt extract (MS I) or 500 mg l(-1) malt extract and 13.3 mu M 6-benzylaminopurine (MS II). Sucrose (146 mM) was used as the carbon source. …
The agricultural heritage of Lampedusa (Pelagie Archipelago, South Italy) and its key role for cultivar and wildlife conservation
As occurred on many other little Mediterranean islands, agricultural activity at Lampedusa (Strait of Sicily) underwent a very strong decline in terms of surface area during the second half of the last century. In particular, cereal crops have ceased and horticulture is disappearing, while vineyards still occupy a reduced area but are quickly vanishing and currently survive thanks to a small number of old farmers. Here are presented the results of a research carried out by interviewing seven farmers in order to study not only the techniques and the germplasm used in local viticulture, but also the final use of grapes and an evaluation on the connection between traditional farming and agro-e…
Inflorescence-visiting insects of a functionally dioecious wild grapevine
The wild grapevine [Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi] is the Eurasian dioecious ancestral form of mostly monoecious domesticated cultivars (Vitis vinifera subsp. vinifera). There are different hypotheses about grapevine pollination, varying from insect to wind pollination to spontaneous self-pollination. The aim of this paper is to update our knowledge on the biology of the wild grapevine by studying the insects visiting their inflorescences. During the fieldworks, floral visitors were observed, captured and identified. The most frequent insects visiting both sexes of wild grapevine were beetles (55%) followed by bees (45%). The present study shows that although in vineyard…
Is in vitro micrografting a possible valid alternative to traditional micropropagation in Cactaceae? Pelecyphora aselliformis as a case study
Several taxa of Cactaceae are endangered by overcollection for commercial purposes, and most of the family is included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). Micropropagation may play a key role to keep the pressure off wild populations and contribute to ex situ conservation of endangered taxa. One of the limits of micropropagation is the species-specific requirement of plant regulators for each taxon and sometimes even for different genotypes. With the micrografting technique the rootstock directly provides the scion with the necessary hormonal requirements. In this paper we present data on in vitro grafting of Pelecyphora aselliformis Eh…
Long-Term Field Evaluation of Conventional vs. Micropropagated Plants of Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium
Pyrethrum is a perennial herbaceous plant endemic to the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, and introduced in large areas of nearly all continents, where it is cultivated for the industrial extraction of pyrethrins. Pyrethrins are a group of six closely related monoterpene esters, widely used as natural insecticides. The world production of natural pyrethrins is lower than the market demand, and a wider introduction of this crop within the Mediterranean agrosystems could be an appealing opportunity for farmers and manufacturers. The availability of adequate amounts of selected plant material to bring into cultivation is, however, one of the major issues. Therefore, the in vitro propagation …
In vitro propagation of the relict laperinne’s olive (Olea europaea L. subsp. laperrinei)
Olea europaea L. subsp. laperrinei (Oleaceae) is an endemic taxon of the mountainous regions of central Sahara, consisting of currently fragmented and small relict populations. The tree can propagate vegetatively or by seed, but no recent natural regeneration was observed in the Algerian massive populations, some of which are considered threatened with extinction. Sterile triploid individuals were also identified in some populations showing increasing vigour. As a result of its long persistence and despite its rarity, the Laperrine's olive is an iconic component of Saharan mountain ecosystems. The aim of this study is to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol for both diploid and tr…
Rearing of Prays citri on callus derived from lemon stigma and style culture
A new method for rearing the citrus flower moth (Prays citri Mill.) (Lepidoptera, Yponomeutidae) on lemon [Citrus limon (L.) Burm.] callus is reported. In the present research callus (an undifferentiated mass of plant cells that can be grown under sterile conditions on an artificial medium in vitro) was induced from lemon stigma and style explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 500 mg l -1 malt extract, 13.3 μM 6-benzylaminopurine, and 146 mM sucrose. Also somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were obtained from the cultures of styles and stigmas of lemon. Adults were obtained from larvae on infested flowers collected in the field. Different oviposition…
Interspecific variation of inflorescence scents and insect visitors in Allium (Amaryllidaceae: Allioideae)
Allium is a large monocotyledonous genus, with many species of high economic importance. Knowledge of the pollination biology and the chemical ecology of pollination in this genus is far from being complete. We studied flower visitors of some Allium species in their native habitat and how these interaction partners communicate by olfactory cues. Floral volatiles of five Mediterranean species were investigated by dynamic headspace and thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS). Floral visitors were observed and captured. The physiological activity of scent components in antennae of flower visitors and congeneric species was tested by gas chromatographic/electroantenno…
Autotetraploid Emergence via Somatic Embryogenesis in Vitis vinifera Induces Marked Morphological Changes in Shoots, Mature Leaves, and Stomata
Polyploidy plays an important role in plant adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses. Alterations of the ploidy in grapevine plants regenerated via somatic embryogenesis (SE) may provide a source of genetic variability useful for the improvement of agronomic characteristics of crops. In the grapevine, the SE induction process may cause ploidy changes without alterations in DNA profile. In the present research, tetraploid plants were observed for 9.3% of ‘Frappato’ grapevine somatic embryos regenerated in medium supplemented with the growth regulators β-naphthoxyacetic acid (10 µM) and N6-benzylaminopurine (4.4 µM). Autotetraploid plants regenerated via SE without detectable changes in the …
From glacial refugia to hydrological microrefugia: Factors and processes driving the persistence of the climate relict tree Zelkova sicula
Abstract With only two tiny populations, the climate relict Zelkova sicula (Sicily, Italy) is one of the rarest trees in the world. It also represents the most marginal member of genus Zelkova that was widespread in the broadleaved forests thriving in warm–temperate climates throughout Eurasia until the Last Glacial Age. Occurring at the westernmost range of the genus under typical Mediterranean climate, the micro‐topographic settings have always appeared crucial for the survival of this relict. However, the factors and processes actually involved in its persistence in the current refugia, as well as the response of similar relict trees in arid environments, are poorly understood worldwide.…
WRKY gene family drives dormancy release in onion bulbs
Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an important bulb crop grown worldwide. Dormancy in bulbous plants is an important physiological state mainly regulated by a complex gene network that determines a stop of vegetative growth during unfavorable seasons. Limited knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that regulate dormancy in onion were available until now. Here, a comparison between uninfected and onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV)-infected onion bulbs highlighted an altered dormancy in the virus-infected plants, causing several symptoms, such as leaf striping, growth reduction, early bulb sprouting and rooting, as well as a lower abscisic acid (ABA) level at the start of dormancy. Furthermore, by compar…
Water relations of two Sicilian grapevine cultivars in response to potassium availability and drought stress
Abstract We investigated the response of two Sicilian grapevine cultivars, Catarratto and Nero d'Avola, to potassium deficiency and drought stress. Two-year-old plants grafted on 1103 Paulsen were grown in agriperlite, with or without potassium in the fertigation solution for six weeks, and subjected to moderate drought stress by suspending irrigation for one week. Potassium content of leaves, roots and xylem sap were measured with an ion-selective electrode. Changes in stomatal conductance, stem and leaf water potential and hydraulic conductance were compared between genotypes and treatments. Potassium deficiency led to significant decreases in leaf potassium content in both cultivars and …
Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from pistil transverse thin cell layers of lemon (Citrus limon)
Callus induction, somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration were obtained in Citrus limon (L.) Burm. (cv. Femminello) from cultures of pistil transverse thin cell layer explants [(t)TCLs]. Explants were cultured on two different media, based on Murashige and Skoog salts and vitamins, supplemented with 500 mg l-1 malt extract (MSI), or 500 mg l-1 malt extract and 13.3 ¼M 6-benzylaminopurine (MSII). Sucrose (146 mM) was used as carbon source. Somatic embryos appeared 3 months after culture initiation from stigma and style (t)TCLs; they were observed at the surface of the (t)TCL-derived callus. Although ovary (t)TCLs showed the highest callus formation, they never differentiated somatic emb…
Urgent need for preservation of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. Subsp. vinifera) germplasm from small circum-Sicilian islands as revealed by SSR markers and traditional use investigations
Since the last decades grapevine germplasm is undergoing a process of rapid genetic erosion. This process is of particular concern in minor circum-Sicilian islands, because of the sharp reduction of the cultivated surfaces and the shift of their economy from agriculture to tourism. Aiming at valorising and preserving the surviving varieties we collected 185 accessions during several surveys since 2007. Six nuclear microsatellite markers were used for germplasm characterization, yielding 75 different genetic profiles. We found out that most genetic profiles (39) were not listed in national and international grapevine databases, confirming that the Sicilian minor islands represent underexplor…
Phylogenetic Relationship Among Wild and Cultivated Grapevine in Sicily: A Hotspot in the Middle of the Mediterranean Basin
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa) is a perennial crop especially important for wine and fruit production. The species is highly polymorphic with thousands of different varieties selected by farmers and clonally propagated. However, it is still debated whether grapevine domestication from its wild ancestor (V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris) has been a single event or rather it occurred on multiple occasions during the diffusion of its cultivation across the Mediterranean. Located in the center of the Basin, Sicily is its largest island and has served as a hotspot for all civilizations that have crossed the Mediterranean throughout history. Hundreds of unique grapevine cultivars are still cul…
Molecular Characterization of Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae by ISSR and RAPD Markers on Eggplant
Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae is a major soil-borne pathogen of eggplant (Solanum melongena). ISSR and RAPD markers were used to characterize Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae isolates collected from eggplant fields in southern Turkey. Those isolates were not pathogenic to tomato. Pathogens were identified by their morphology, and their identity was confirmed by PCR amplifi- cation using the specific primer PF02-3. The isolates were classified into groups on the basis of ISSR and RAPD fingerprints, which showed a level of genetic speci- ficity and diversity not previously identified in Fusarium oxysporum f. melongenae, suggesting that genetic differences are related to the pathogen in the…
An Updated Checklist of the Sicilian Native Edible Plants: Preserving the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Century-Old Agro-Pastoral Landscapes
The traditional use of native wild food plants (NWFP) may represent a valuable supplementary food source for the present and future generations. In Sicily, the use of wild plants in the human diet dates back to very ancient times and still plays an important role in some rural communities. Moreover, in this regard, the natural and cultural inheritance of this island is wealthy and diversified for several reasons. First, Sicily hosts a rich vascular flora, with 3,000 native and 350 endemic plants. Second, due to its central position in the Mediterranean, the island has acted as a veritable melting pot for the ethnobotanical knowledge of the rural communities of the entire basin. We reviewed …
Propagation of Calendula maritima Guss. (Asteraceae) through Biotechnological Techniques for Possible Usage in Phytotherapy
The genus Calendula (Asteraceae) includes several species that are renowned for their therapeutic properties and/or use as ingredients in the preparation of cosmetics. The rare and critically endangered sea marigold, Calendula maritima Guss., an endemic species from Western Sicily, has also been recognized as a potential “farm plant species” for several important compounds used in cosmetics. However, the few remnant populations of this species are currently threatened with extinction because of several factors, such as hybridization with the congeneric species Calendula suffruticosa subsp. fulgida (Raf.) Guadagno and anthropogenic disturbance of its habitat. Therefore, in order to preserve …
Somatic embryogenesis and flow cytometric assessment of nuclear genetic stability for Sansevieria spp.: an approach for in vitro regeneration of ornamental plants
Sansevieria Thunb. species are traditionally known as succulent ornamental plants worldwide. They are also cultivated for medicinal, fodder, soil conservation and fiber uses, and for their capacity to reduce environmental pollution. Sansevieria sexual propagation is limited by the lack of viable seeds, and reproduction is largely made via vegetative propagation by suckers or cuttings. For these reasons, genetic improvement by conventional breeding is limited. To overcome this problem and to address the increasing demand from customers for novel Sansevieria varieties, many commercial companies regularly use in vitro propagation, as is the case in the breeding process of several ornamental pl…
Additional insights on the ecology of the relic tree Zelkova sicula di Pasquale, Garfì et Quézel (Ulmaceae) after the finding of a new population
Abstract In early autumn 2009 a new population of Zelkova sicula, a very threatened tree species endemic to Sicily, has been found some 17 km east from the first and unique population previously known. The abiotic (slope, rock and stone outcrop cover, environmental stress, etc.) and biotic (plant species composition, vegetation mean height, total cover, etc.) features of 30 plots selected within the two populations were investigated in order to contribute at clarifying the actual and potential eco-geographic range of this species. Data analysis showed that the floristic differences among the sampled plots mostly relate to the rather high micro-habitat amplitude of the target species and the…
Influence of Culture Conditions on In Vitro Asymbiotic Germination of Anacamptis longicornu and Ophrys panormitana (Orchidaceae)
This study is the first approach to in vitro asymbiotic germination of two species of Sicilian threatened terrestrial orchids, Anacamptis longicornu and Ophrys panormitana. Seeds were collected in the wild and cultured in two different media—Orchimax medium (OM) and Murashige and Skoog (MS)—and exposed to different photoperiods and temperatures to evaluate the best conditions for the specific stages of development. The germination of A. longicornu was very high on OM (95.5%) and lower on MS medium (21.4%), whereas O. panormitana germinated only on OM medium, with significantly lower percentages (12.0%), compared with A. longicornu. This difference is caused by variation in quality and quant…
Factors affecting somatic embryogenesis in eight Italian grapevine cultivars and the genetic stability of embryo-derived regenerants as assessed by molecular markers
Abstract Embryogenic cultures have been used in cryopreservation, genetic transformation, propagation, virus elimination, induced mutagenesis and in many other biotechnological applications, providing excellent opportunities for biotechnology advances in grapevine. Unfortunately the efficiency of somatic embryogenesis (SE) is genotype-dependent in addition to showing interaction with explant type used and the plant growth regulator (PGR) composition. In order to identify the interaction of these parameters in SE, we tested eight wine grapevine cultivars, three explant types (ovary, anther/filament and stigma/style) and four PGR combinations in a statistically designed experiment. The genoty…
Molecular Analysis of the Official Algerian Olive Collection Highlighted a Hotspot of Biodiversity in the Central Mediterranean Basin
Genetic diversity and population structure studies of local olive germplasm are important to safeguard biodiversity, for genetic resources management and to improve the knowledge on the distribution and evolution patterns of this species. In the present study Algerian olive germplasm was characterized using 16 nuclear (nuSSR) and six chloroplast (cpSSR) microsatellites. Algerian varieties, collected from the National Olive Germplasm Repository (ITAFV), 10 of which had never been genotyped before, were analyzed. Our results highlighted the presence of an exclusive genetic core represented by 13 cultivars located in a mountainous area in the North-East of Algeria, named Little Kabylie. Compar…
In vitro rescue of zygotic embryos of sour orange, Citrus aurantium L., and their detection based on RFLP analysis
Embryo development in vivo has been studied in four Citrus aurantium L. polyembryonic genotypes. Seeds were collected 65, 85, 105, 125 and 220 days after pollination (DAP). None of the immature seeds harvested 65 and 85 DAP contained visible embryos. A single embryo at a more advanced developmental stage was observed in the central position at the micropylar apex of the embryo sac in about 74% of seeds harvested at 105 DAP, while at 125 and 220 DAP the majority of seeds had two or more embryos at the same developmental stage crowded together. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of low- and high-copy-number nuclear DNA was used to distinguish zygotic from nucellar seedli…
The endophytic microbiota of Citrus limon is transmitted from seed to shoot highlighting differences of bacterial and fungal community structures
AbstractCitrus limon (L.) Burm. F. is an important evergreen fruit crop whose rhizosphere and phyllosphere microbiota have been characterized, while seed microbiota is still unknown. Bacterial and fungal endophytes were isolated from C. limon surface-sterilized seeds. The isolated fungi—belonging to Aspergillus, Quambalaria and Bjerkandera genera—and bacteria—belonging to Staphylococcus genus—were characterized for indoleacetic acid production and phosphate solubilization. Next Generation Sequencing based approaches were then used to characterize the endophytic bacterial and fungal microbiota structures of surface-sterilized C. limon seeds and of shoots obtained under aseptic conditions fr…
Hybridization in Capparis spinosa L.: Molecular and morphological evidence from a Mediterranean island complex
Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers and morphological analysis were used in order to characterize wild populations and cultivated forms of orphan crop species Capparis spinosa L. in a Mediterranean island complex. Nineteen wild populations belonging to two different subspecies, C. spinosa subsp. spinosa and subsp. rupestris, were sampled in different environments in Sicily and the surrounding islets Lampedusa, Pantelleria and Salina. Different biotypes cultivated in Pantelleria and Salina were analyzed. Six ISSR primers were selected for genetic characterization, and all clear and reproducible bands were scored and analyzed. Among the 47 ISSR bands obtained, 97.5% were pol…
The effect of different amounts of cladode removal on reflowering of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica(L.) Miller)
SummaryThe removal of the spring flush of flowers and cladodes at bloom promotes reflowering in cactus pear. Studies were conducted to investigate the influence of different amounts of spring flush cladode removal (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, 0%) on cactus pear reflowering. A positive linear correlation between the severity of spring flush cladode removal and the degree of reflowering was found. Primary (spring flush) and secondary (second flush) cladodes showed the same fertility in the year after formation. Two year old cladodes showed a significantly lower fertility and have only a marginal effect on plant yield.
Transcriptome analysis and codominant markers development in caper, a drought tolerant orphan crop with medicinal value.
AbstractCaper (Capparis spinosa L.) is a xerophytic shrub cultivated for its flower buds and fruits, used as food and for their medicinal properties. Breeding programs and even proper taxonomic classification of the genus Capparis has been hampered so far by the lack of reliable genetic information and molecular markers. Here, we present the first genomic resource for C. spinosa, generated by transcriptomic approach and de novo assembly. The sequencing effort produced nearly 80 million clean reads assembled into 124,723 unitranscripts. Careful annotation and comparison with public databases revealed homologs to genes with a key role in important metabolic pathways linked to abiotic stress t…
An integrated proteomic and metabolomic study to evaluate the effect of nucleus-cytoplasm interaction in a diploid citrus cybrid between sweet orange and lemon.
Key message: Our results provide a comprehensive overview how the alloplasmic condition might lead to a significant improvement in citrus plant breeding, developing varieties more adaptable to a wide range of conditions. Abstract: Citrus cybrids resulting from somatic hybridization hold great potential in plant improvement. They represent effective products resulting from the transfer of organelle-encoded traits into cultivated varieties. In these cases, the plant coordinated array of physiological, biochemical, and molecular functions remains the result of integration among different signals, which derive from the compartmentalized genomes of nucleus, plastids and mitochondria. To dissect …
Genetic instability in calamondin (Citrus madurensis Lour.) plants derived from somatic embryogenesis induced by diphenylurea derivative
Somatic embryos were regenerated in vitro from calamondin style-stigma explants cultured in the presence of N (6)-benzylaminopurine (BAP) cytokinin and three synthetic phenylurea derivatives, N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N-phenylurea (4-CPPU), N-phenyl-N'-benzothiazol-6-ylurea (PBU) and N,N'-bis-(2,3-methilendioxyphenyl)urea (2,3-MDPU). The phenylurea derivative compounds tested at micromolar level (12 muM) were able to induce a percentage of responsive explants significantly higher from that obtained with BAP and hormone-free (HF) conditions. In order to verify the genetic stability of the regenerants, 27 plants coming from different embryogenic events were randomly selected from each different …
Dimorphism in inflorescence scent of dioecious wild grapevine
Abstract Wild grapevine ( Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris ) is the dioecious ancestral form of grapevine, from which the domesticated cultivars have derived ( V. vinifera subsp. vinifera ). Little is known about the floral scent compounds of wild grapevine that is considered as being partly insect pollinated. The knowledge of volatiles released by male and female inflorescence may contribute to the understanding of the pollination biology of this endangered taxon. Inflorescence scents of male and female individuals were collected by dynamic headspace and analysed by thermal desorption-GC/MS. A total of 17 compounds of C5-branched chain alcohols, aliphatics, aromatics, and terpenoids were i…