Development of Brassica Napus L. Ogu-INRA CMS Restorers Using Recurrent Full-Sib Selection.

The Ogu-INRA CMS system in canola and rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) uses a cytological variant of the radish- (Raphanus sativus L.) derived Ogu CMS pollination control system introduced through interspecific introgression. The restorers (R-lines) contain an introgression that is associated with poor agronomic performance due to a large undesired segment of the radish chromosome that was introgressed along with the Rfo gene. The introgression contains pentatricopeptide (PPR) motif repeats that confer fertility restoration abilities to the R-lines. The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that multiple cycles of intermating will result in R-lines with improved agronomic performance. A base population was developed by designing five R-line by R-line crosses. Twelve plants from each initial cross were grown and chain-crossed at random, without selection, other than the presence of the Rfo gene. Twelve flowers from each plant were crossed and the remainder of the plant was selfed. Three intermating crossing cycles (C0, C1 and C2) were completed and each was selfed three times for evaluation. Total pod number, seeds per pod, a visual pod rating, thousand seed weight and yield were evaluated. The visual pod rating showed a positive correlation with seeds per pod. Improvements for all traits were found at C0 and C1 when compared to the best parent. Individual families from two of the crosses showed a yield increase of over 78 % from the best parent. This suggests that improvements in yield components can be obtained from intermating R-lines.

Buzz-Pollinated Crops: A Global Review and Meta-analysis of the Effects of Supplemental Bee Pollination in Tomato

Buzz-pollinated plants require visitation from vibration producing bee species to elicit full pollen release. Several important food crops are buzz-pollinated including tomato, eggplant, kiwi, and blueberry. Although more than half of all bee species can buzz pollinate, the most commonly deployed supplemental pollinator, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae; honey bees), cannot produce vibrations to remove pollen. Here, we provide a list of buzz-pollinated food crops and discuss the extent to which they rely on pollination by vibration-producing bees. We then use the most commonly cultivated of these crops, the tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L. (Solanales: Solanaceae), as a case study to investigate the effect of different pollination treatments on aspects of fruit quality. Following a systematic review of the literature, we statistically analyzed 71 experiments from 24 studies across different geopolitical regions and conducted a meta-analysis on a subset of 21 of these experiments. Our results show that both supplemental pollination by buzz-pollinating bees and open pollination by assemblages of bees, which include buzz pollinators, significantly increase tomato fruit weight compared to a no-pollination control. In contrast, auxin treatment, artificial mechanical vibrations, or supplemental pollination by non-buzz-pollinating bees (including Apis spp.), do not significantly increase fruit weight. Finally, we compare strategies for providing bee pollination in tomato cultivation around the globe and highlight how using buzz-pollinating bees might improve tomato yield, particularly in some geographic regions. We conclude that employing native, wild buzz pollinators can deliver important economic benefits with reduced environmental risks and increased advantages for both developed and emerging economies.

Pengaruh Teknik Penyerbukan Terhadap Pembentukan Buah Naga (Hylocereus polyrizhus) [The Effect of Pollination Technique to Fruit Development of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrizhus)]

<p>Bunga tanaman buah naga berukuran besar dan merupakan bunga hermaprodit yang mekar pada malam hari. Penyerbukan silang pada buah naga dapat terjadi dengan bantuan angin, serangga polinator maupun manusia. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh teknik penyerbukan bunga betina terhadap pembuahan buah naga (Hylocereus polyrizhus). Penelitian dilakukan di Kebun Percobaan Aripan, Balai Penelitian Tanaman Tropika pada bulan Agustus sampai September 2014. Perlakuan terdiri atas: (A) penyerbukan secara alami (kontrol), (B) penyerbukan sendiri melalui isolasi bunga dengan kantong kertas minyak, (C) penyerbukan dengan mengisolasi bunga menggunakan kantong kertas minyak saat mekar pada malam hari dibantu dengan memberikan serbuk sari dari bunganya sendiri dan diisolasi kembali, dan (D) penyerbukan bunga yang didahului dengan kastrasi dan isolasi menggunakan kantong kertas minyak serta polinasi pada malam hari dan selanjutnya bunga diisolasi kembali. Setiap perlakuan terdiri atas 37 bunga tanaman buah naga. Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan uji t berpasangan pada taraf 0,05. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa teknik penyerbukan yang berbeda pada tanaman buah naga menghasilkan kelas buah yang berbeda. Persentase buah dengan kelas super tertinggi diperoleh pada penyerbukan secara alami (kontrol), meskipun persentase jadi buah paling kecil. Implikasi dari hasil penelitian ini adalah bahwa penyerbukan pada buah naga sebaiknya dilakukan secara alami tanpa menggunakan bantuan manusia.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong></p><p>Buah naga; Penyerbukan; Pembuahan; <em>Self compatible</em></p><p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>The flower size of dragon fruit plants is large and a hermaphroditic nocturnal flowers. Cross pollination of the dragon fruit plants occurs because of the wind, pollinator, and humans. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of pollination technique on fertilization of dragon fruit flowers (Hylocereus polyrizhus). This research was conducted at Aripan Experimental Field, Indonesian Tropical Fruit Research Institute (ITFRI) from August to September 2014. The treatments consisted of: (A) natural open pollination (control), (B) the flowers were isolated with paper bags and allowed to self pollination, (C) the flowers were isolated with paper bag and hand self pollinated when flowers were blooming in the evening. Furthermore all pollinated flowers were isolated with paper bag again (hand self pollination), and (D) the flowers were castrated and emasculated then they were isolated with paper bag. Cross pollination was done with pollen from the other plants. The all pollinated flowers were isolated with paper bag again (hand cross pollination). Each treatment consisted of 37 flowers of dragon fruit plants. Data were analyzed by using paired t test 0.05. The results showed that different of pollination techniques on dragon fruit plants were produced of different fruit grade. Percentage of superior grade on natural open pollination higher than the other treatment, even though the open pollination had smallest of percentage of fruit set. The implication of this research is that the dragon fruit flower pollination may be done naturally without human assistance.</p>

Pollination and quality of seeds and plantlets of Eugenia uniflora L.

ABSTRACT This work evaluated the effect of pollination on the quality of seeds and plantlets of Eugenia uniflora L., as well as on the regenerative capacity of the seeds. Twelve individuals were monitored for their phenology and their floral visitors. Recently-opened flowers were subjected to self-pollination (SP), cross-pollination (CP) and natural pollination/control (C) treatments. The seeds obtained were evaluated for their germination and the resulting seedlings were transferred to a greenhouse and evaluated for their height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area and fresh and dry mass of root, stem, and leaves. SP, CP and C seeds were fractionated into two and four parts and evaluated for their ability to germinate and produce normal seedlings. Seeds and seedlings from manual cross-pollination were the most vigorous. The worst performance of the natural pollination (C) evidenced the pollen limitation caused by the scarcity of efficient pollinators in the study area.

The Crossing Effect of Dragon Fruit Plant Caltivars [Hylocereus Sp.] on Yield

Type of dragon fruit that is cultivated commercially is the red dragon fruit. There is no optimal production, because the flower of plant is incompatible. One way of improving production [fruiting] of dragon fruit is through manual crossing. This research aim was to study the crossing suitabilityof the red dragon fruit on fruiting. The research was conducted in dragon fruit plantation, West Java. Experimental design used was Randomized Block Design with four treatments and six replications. Treatments were: Natural Pollination [control];Crossing in one flower;Crossing between flowers; Crossing between varieties. Dimension of fruit measured were:diameter, length, fresh weight, and sugar content of fruit. Analysis of variance was applied with Duncan test at 5% significance level. Preparation of flower pollination was done by selecting the probable flower to bloom at night to come. The blooming flower can be predicted in the afternoon and the crossing was done at midnight.The result showed that the crossing between varieties was the best [improved fruiting]production. This report was suplemented with literature study on betalain showing that betalain is great beneficial for human health, and may be the next subject to study once the bulk production of fruit is done.