Plant germplasm diversification strategies : a case study using Limonium : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Plant Science at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Loading...
Date
2024
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
Rights
The Author
Abstract
Limonium Mill. was chosen for this research as it has an established market for ornamental use and faces significant challenges in breeding including access to germplasm with traits of interest, self-incompatibility in most species, and pollen/stigma dimorphism which limits the types of cross combinations that can be performed. In interspecific crosses, challenges can be the low hybridisation rate (<1%), and the sterility/low fertility of interspecific hybrids. To address these challenges, increase the germplasm diversity available, and speed the development of cultivars, two breeding strategies were evaluated in this research: ploidy manipulation and physically induced mutations.
The main outcomes were:
1. Efficacy of those strategies in:
• Increasing the ploidy levels of the selected genotypes and therefore the germplasm diversity for The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd (PFR)’s germplasm bank.
• Increasing the hybridisation rate in interspecific crosses.
• Fertility restoration in interspecific hybrids
2. Development of plants with new characteristics or different ploidy levels (i.e., triploids, tetraploids, or even higher ploidy levels).
3. Breeding protocols for Limonium using N2O which could be further used in other plant breeding programmes.
The use of Limonium for the development of a new breeding strategies for increasing genetic diversity has a direct impact on other breeding programmes i.e., food crops. In addition, the Limonium industry could have access to continued novelty, ensuring industry access to new cultivars would benefit New Zealand’s economy mainly through royalties.
Description
Keywords
Limonium, Breeding, Genetics, Varieties, plant breeding, polyploidy, nitrous oxide, mutagenesis, spindle disruption