Abstract
To assure self-compatibility in the progenies, three different crosses were conducted for the first time in an almond breeding programme: self-pollination (266 descendants from 30 families), crosses between parents sharing an S-allele (108 descendants from five families) and crosses with homozygous self-compatible parents (62 descendants from five families). Depending on the cross, self-compatibility in the progenies was determined by observing pollen tube growth (by means of fluorescence microscopy), stylar S-RNases analysis or allele-specific PCR. The results obtained fit with the accepted hypothesis of inheritance of self-compatibility and the three crossing strategies used ensured 100% of self-compatible descendants. These strategies increase the efficiency of the breeding programme and avoid the laborious task of evaluating this characteristic. From the breeding point of view, self-fertilisation and crosses between relatives tend to produce inbreeding. Furthermore, these methods reduce the possibilities of choosing the parental combination. The use of homozygous self-compatible parents does not have any of these disadvantages. As far as we know, this is the first time that allele-specific PCR has been used for early selection of self-compatible seedlings. The advantages and disadvantages of the three methodologies used to determine self-compatibility are discussed.
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Acknowledgements
This work has been financed by the project "Mejora Genética del Almendro" (AGF98-0211-C03-02) from the "Plan Nacional de I+D" of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture. We thank Dr. David Walker for revision of the English in the manuscript.
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Communicated by H.F. Linskens
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Ortega, E., Dicenta, F. Inheritance of self-compatibility in almond: breeding strategies to assure self-compatibility in the progeny. Theor Appl Genet 106, 904–911 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-002-1159-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-002-1159-y