Variability of biological traits of genotypes in the ‘Talisman x Asma’ crossing population

Целью исследований было изучение биологических особенностей новых гибридных форм винограда и степень их изменчивости. Гибридные формы столового винограда получены путем гибридизации обработанной колхицином материнской формы Талисман. Скрещивания проведены в 2011 г. в направлении создания крупноягодных столовых сорто-форм среднепозднего и позднего срока созревания, предназначенных для длительного хранения. Установлено что к 2020 г. всего 77 % растений в популяции сеянцев вступили в пору плодоношения, из них у 21 сеянца определен обоеполый тип цветка и у 30 растений тип цветка определен как функционально женский. Продукционный период в популяции сеянцев варьирует от 119-150 дней; наибольшую группу составляют сеянцы со средним сроком созревания (135-145 дней) - 65 % растений. Коэффициент плодоношения в популяции сеянцев находится в пределах 0,49±0,09, а коэффициент плодоносности - 1,17±0,09. При этом коэффициент плодоношения варьирует в значительно большей степени, чем коэффициент плодоносности. Отмечено низкое среднее значение полученного фактического урожая в популяции сеянцев относительно сортов-родительских форм; однако данные вариационного анализа указывают на присутствие в данной популяции растений, характеризующиеся как очень низкой урожайностью, так и высокой (V = 67-69 %). В популяции сеянцев на естественном инфекционном фоне выделены генотипы с высокой устойчивостью к оидиуму (Erysiphe necator) - более 20%. На основе статистического анализа комплекса признаков выделена группа из 29 сеянцев для дальнейшего изучения. Предварительно выделены в качестве элитных форм Магарач №19-11-3-20 (для длительного хранения) и Магарач № 19-11-3-53, М.№19-11-4-17. The aim of the research was to study the biological characteristics of new hybrid forms of grapes and the degree of their variability. Hybrid forms of table grapes are obtained by hybridization of the treated with colchicine female parent of ‘Talisman’. Crossings were carried out in 2011 in the direction of creating large-berry table varieties of medium-late and late ripening, intended for long-term storage. It was established that by 2020 only 77% of the plants in the seedling population entered the season of fruiting, 21 seedlings of which had a bisexual flower type and 30 plants had a flower type defined as functionally female. The production period in the population of seedlings varies from 119 to 150 days; the largest group consists of seedlings with an average ripening period (135-145 days) - 65% of plants. The coefficient of fruiting in the population of seedlings is within the range of 0.49±0.09, and the coefficient of fertility is 1.17±0.09. At the same time, the fruiting coefficient varies to a much greater extent than the fertility coefficient. There was a low average value of actual yield obtained in the population of seedlings relative to the varieties - parental forms; however, the data of analysis of variance indicate the presence of plants in this population, characterized by both very low and high cropping capacity (V=67-69%). In the population of seedlings against a natural infectious background, genotypes with high resistance to powdery mildew ( Erysiphe necator ) - more than 20% were identified. On the basis of statistical analysis of the complex of characters, a group of 29 seedlings was selected for further study. The ‘Magarach No. 19-11-3-20’ (for long-term storage) and ‘Magarach No. 19-11-3-53’, ‘M. No. 19-11-4-17’ were preliminarily identified as elite forms.

Crop Regulation in Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) through Induced Water Stress and Ethrel Application

The present investigation was carried out at ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India during 2017 to 2019 to regulate crop production in pomegranate at the desired period with higher number of bisexual flower for higher quality fruit yield and to minimize fruit splitting through water stress, pruning and ethrel application. Pooled data analysis revealed that horticultural interventions, chemical treatments and their interactions significantly improved plant volume, bisexual flower number, maturity index, fruit yield with significant reduction in fruit splitting, mite and fungal spot incidence. Among different treatment combinations, maximum canopy volume, number of bisexual flowers, maturity index, fruit yield and lower fruit splitting were recorded (8.56 m3, 85.11 plant-1, 47.81, 124.01 q ha-1 and 1.87 kg plant-1) in withholding irrigation during June+pruning+thinning+ethrel 2 ml l-1 as compared to absolute control (3.41 m3, 75.62 plant-1, 33.35, 85.66 q ha-1 and 2.41 kg plant-1), respectively. The mite and fungal spot incidence were recorded minimum (4.72 and 8.50%) in withholding irrigation during June+pruning+thinning+ethrel 3 ml l-1 application in comparison to maximum recorded in absolute control (29.73 and 33.68%), respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that withholding irrigation during June+pruning+thinning with ethrel 2 ml l-1 treatment significantly improved quality fruit yield with higher number of bisexual flowers and reduced fruit splitting through induction of flowering and fruit growth during optimal climatic conditions.

Sexual and ontogenetic structures of gynodioecious Geranium pseudosibiricum J. Mayer (Geraniaceae) in Altai Mountains

Geranium pseudosibiricum J. Mayer. is a gynodioecious North and Central Asian species. The study was conducted in a grass meadow on the edge of larch forest in the Altai Republic. The aim was to study the sexual and ontogenetic structures of the coenopopulation of G. pseudosibiricum. The generative individual consists of shoots of only one sexual form: hermaphrodite with bisexual flowers and female with pistillate flowers. There are significant differences in the length of corolla: the length of bisexual flowers is 12.2 ± 0.29 mm, pistillate flowers 6.7 ± 0.19 mm. The bisexual flower has well-developed stamens and anthers; the pistillate flower has stamens with underdeveloped anthers. There are no significant differences between hermaphrodite and female individuals in the number of generative shoots and the number of flowers per individual. The ontogenetic structure of the coenopopulation of G. pseudosibiricum is dominated by pregenerative individuals − 53%. Good seed germination contributes to maintenance of sexual structure of the coenopopulation. The female frequency is 55% of the total number of generative plants. The detected morphological differences between bisexual and pistillate flowers and the high female frequency may indicate a high degree of sexual differentiation of G. pseudosibiricum.

Singpuria, a new genus of Eudicot flower from the latest Cretaceous Deccan Intertrappean Beds of India

A new bisexual flower, Singpuria kapgatei, gen. et sp. nov., is described from chert of latest Cretaceous age from the Deccan Intertrappean Beds at Singpur, Madhya Pradesh, in central India. The hypogynous, actinomorphic flower is ~1.6 mm wide, with distinct sepals and petals. The androecium consists of 18 tetrasporangiate, dithecal, basifixed anthers borne in radial pairs on nine bifurcate filaments. The gynoecium is superior and syncarpous, with pentagonal symmetry. Pollen from the stamens is tricolporate and microreticulate. The combined morphological features of this flower indicate that Singpuria is a eudicot with affinities in the Pentapetalae, but we have been unable to make a more precise assignment. Nevertheless, we consider it useful to place this rare fossil flower on record as an exemplary extinct member of the Deccan biota. Singpuria may represent a clade that was isolated on the Indian subcontinent and became extinct in response to environmental changes at the K/Pg boundary, or later in the Cenozoic as the land mass moved northward through new climate zones and collided with Eurasia.

Status of Pepper Farming and Flower Composition of Different Pepper Varieties in Sarawak

Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is one of the most important cash crops in Sarawak. The productivity of pepper is consistently low due to the low yield of berry production. One of the major problems of pepper production is inconsistent flowering time. This is due to the morphology and inheritance of functional male, female and hermaphrodite (bisexual) flower in P. nigrum which affect the productivity of pepper. For the exploitation of pepper for its maximum production, the detailed of flower development and flower composition are important factors to be considered. A field survey was conducted to determine the status of farming practices and problems encountered by the farmers. The study was also done to determine the composition of flower which influenced the consistency of berry production in P. nigrum in Sarawak. Surveys were conducted at 18 pepper farms in Sarawak to determine the composition of flowers in different types of Sarawak pepper varieties which are Kuching, Semenggok Aman and Semenggok Emas. Nine spikes were harvested in each pepper vine. Three pepper vines were selected randomly for each variety. The spikes were then observed under 3D Keyence microscope to determine the number of flowers of each type of flower. The survey on the farming practices were also conducted. The composition of flower was found to be varied between varieties. ‘Kuching’ variety had less hermaphrodite flower when compared to ‘Semenggok Aman’ and ‘Semenggok Emas’ varieties. In addition, a proportion of 29% farmers had encountered root rot disease problem in their farm, while 21% stated that unsynchronisation of berries production in each harvesting time as a major problem.

A unique flower in Miocene amber sheds new light on the evolution of flowers

The evolution of flowers is among the foremost topics in evolutionary science. The question for botanists of how flowers evolved exists mainly due to lack of relevant fossil evidence, especially of well-preserved flowers. Dominican amber has yielded abundant fossils (including those of flowers) and thus opens a unique window on flower evolution. Here we report a unique flower preserved in mid-Miocene Dominican amber, Dinganthus pentamera gen. et sp. nov. The flower is actinomorphic, pentamerous, bisexual flower including two bracts, five tepals, 10 stamens, and gynoecium. The stamens are dorsifixed, filamentous, and latrorse. The gynoecium in the centre comprises three portions, namely, a basal gynophore, multiple ovaries in the middle, and an apical style. Supplementing to the developmental and genetic evidence, the unique morphology of Dinganthus suggests that a flower is a condensed shoot with lateral appendages, a long-held belief in botany.

Ampelographic description, ampelometric screening and agrobiological characteristics of the Donus grape variety

The agrobiological and ampelographic characteristics of the Donus interspecific grape variety are given. A variety of universal use, average ripening period, the duration of the production period for 2010-2019 was 146 days with the sum of active temperatures 3297 0C. The variety is characterized by high winter hardiness. With a sum negative temperature of 586 0C and an absolute minimum of minus 25 0C, the live buds from 49% to 72.8%. Fruit shoots 90-100%, fruitfulness ratio 1.8. Yield / bush ≥ 6.9 kg with a planting pattern of 3 m × 1.5 m. It has bisexual flower, clusters of medium density, cylindro-conical with 1 -2 wings, weighing 212 g. The berry is oval, greenish-yellow, weighing about 3 g. The parameters of the berry are 14.6 × 13.4 mm. The pulp is juicy with muscat aroma. Differs in moderate sugar accumulation with moderate acidity. Resistance to mildew and oidium is high. The variety has been defined as a donor of mildew resistance. It is used for the production of juices, dry and sparkling wines, fresh consumption. The wine degustation evaluation is on average 8.5 points on a ten-point scale. The Donus is a perspective variety for commercial vitiviniculturel.

Anatomy and development of gynoecium in Tapiscia sinensis Oliv. and its implications for the origin of carpels

Tapiscia sinensis Oliv. (Tapisciaceae) is a rare tree endemic in China. Characteristic of its androdioecy is the coexistence of male and hermaphroditic flowers. Its bisexual flower bears five stamens surrounding the gynoecium, which is composed of a terminal style and an ovary at the base. The style has a bifid stigmata, which is hollow and longer than stamens. The ovary is syncarpous, unilocular, formed by two fused carpels, with a basal or subbasal placenta. Ovule is bitegmic, anatropous, borne on the placenta and supplied by an amphicribral vascular bundle arising directly from receptacle. The carpel wall is supplied by a collateral vascular bundle. The ovule’s position changes from initially inserted on the ovary base to later attached to the middle of the ovary wall due to unequal growth of the embryo sac. Based on the present observation and others, the implications of vascular system in Tapiscia for the evolution of carpel are discussed.

Proteomic analysis of differently expressed proteins in sex differentiation phases of flower buds in monoecious Pistacia chinensis Bunge

The Pistacia chinensis Bunge is traditionally dioecious, and the female trees are more required to grow in practice for oil seed production. The discovery of monoecious P. chinensis Bunge in North China provided good raw materials to study the sex differentiation process. The objective of this study was to identify the differently expressed proteins in flower buds in two key sex differentiation phases in monoecious P. chinensis Bunge. Morphological observation and paraffin section were used to determine the key phenophases, and label-free quantitative technique was used for proteomic analysis. The results showed that the proteins related to oxidative stress resistance up-regulated while proteins involved in photosynthesis down-regulated during the female primordium differentiation in bisexual flower buds of the monoecious P. chinensis Bunge in early March, while proteins related to oxidative stress resistance, ribosome activity, and photosynthetic function up-regulated during the male primordium differentiation in bisexual flower buds of the monoecious P. chinensis Bunge in late May. The most up-regulated proteins all involved in the photosynthesis pathway in both kind of flower buds in late May compared to those in early March, and the down-regulated proteins all involved in the ribosome pathway. The identified differentially expressed proteins such as the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutases may be possible molecular markers for sex determination in monoecious P. chinensis Bunge.

Pollination ecology of Clerodendrum indicum (Lamiaceae): first report of deceit pollination by anther-mimicking stigma in a bisexual flower

Clerodendrum indicum (Lamiaceae) is a medicinally important shrub. We have studied the details of its pollination ecology which was hitherto unknown. The work was done during three consecutive years 2012-2014, based on 118 plants occurring in three widely separated wild populations in West Bengal, India, together with 25 individuals grown in an experimental plot. Details of flower structure and dynamics of floral events, pollen production and pollen dispersal, visitors and pollinators, floral attractants and floral rewards and pollen transfer mechanism have been worked out by standard methodologies with a 10x high resolution hand lens (IRL), a Leica WILD M3B Stereo-binocular microscope (Switzerland) and a Leica DMLB compound bright field light microscope (Germany). The tubular flower of four-day longevity attracts its visitors by visual cues. Flowers are visited regularly by ten species of insects. On the basis of the visitor behaviour, these can be classified into three distinct categories, viz., visitors belonging to Category-I act on cushion and trichome nectaries of calyx and corolla respectively, those of Category-II act on the dehisced anthers and trichome nectaries of corolla while those of Category-III act on dehisced anthers as well as receptive stigma. Majority of the visitors belong to either Category-I or Category-II. They visit only the 2nd day flowers and never visit a 3rd day flower when the stigma assumes receptivity. Therefore, they are not regarded as pollinators but, act as pollen and/or nectar robbers. Those are discriminated by offering secretions from extra-nuptial nectaries of the flower. Visitor species of Category-III, represented by a species of Trigona, constitute the legitimate pollinator of the plant and thereby, making the plant monophilic. Pollen presentation from the bisexual, dichogamous and protandrous flower takes place on the 2nd day, while the stigma assumes its receptivity on the 3rd day of flower opening. Pollen transfer to the body of the pollinator by a 2nd day flower in its male phase is achieved by offering edible pollen grains. On the other hand, a 3rd day flower at its female phase is devoid of the reward (pollen grain). The yellow shiny receptive stigma of such a flower strikingly mimics the freshly dehisced anthers and the pollinators being lured by such a stigma inadvertently transfer pollen onto it. C. indicum is so far the only known species of flowering plants where deceit pollination occurs by anther-mimicking stigma in a bisexual flower.