Summary
An autotetraploid population of caraway (Carum carvi L.) was produced by treating the growing points of young plants with a 0.2% colchicine solution. Selection on morphology, pollen size and pollen shape, followed by a selection on seed size proved to be an effective way to identify the mixoploid C0 plants. Three percent of the treated plants produced a tetraploid progeny. Moderate selection in the C1 and the C2 population resulted in an improvement of the average seed-set to the amount of 50% of the diploid control, with a range of 21–78%. The 1000-kernel weight of the tetraploid material was 7 g, compared to 3 g in the diploid control. The oil content of the autotetraploid seed was increased with 35.6%; the increase in carvone amounted to 6.9%. The results of the experiment indicate that breeding work in autotetraploid caraway may result in a new cultivar.
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Dijkstra, H., Speckmann, G.J. Autotetraploidy in caraway (Carum carvi L.) for the increase of the aetheric oil content of the seed. Euphytica 29, 89–96 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00037252
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00037252