Abstract
Vaccinium corymbodendron (section Pyxothamnus) is a tetraploid species native to high-altitude locations in Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela, and is of considerable interest because it flowers at times when nighttime temperatures drop below freezing. It also is notable for its profuse, concentrated flowering, and monopodial plant structure both of which may be useful in breeding for mechanical harvest. Initial hybridization experiments of 4x V. corymbodendron with a range of 2x species from section Cyanococcus found all hybrids were triploids. 4x × 2x crosses in conventional Vaccinium germplasm typically result in an almost absolute block of triploid offspring. The triploids expressed very low fertility as both males and females, nonetheless, several were used successfully in crosses. A single hybrid from 4x V. corymbodendron × 2x V. vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry, section Vitis-idaea) was unexpectedly found to be tetraploid and was highly fertile. These crossing results suggest V. corymbodendron either possesses no ploidy barriers to hybridization, or possesses genomic dosage factors that differ from section Cyanococcus species. Understanding these crossing relationships may open new avenues for exploitation of this germplasm and other tertiary gene pool germplasm.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carputo D, Frusciante L, Peloquin SJ (2003) The role of 2n gametes and endosperm balance number in the origin and evolution of polyploids in the tuber-bearing solanums. Genetics 163:287–294
de Candole ALPP (1839) Vaccinium corymbodendron. Prodromus Systematis Naturales Regni Vegetabalis (DC.) 7(2):569
Dweikat IM, Lyrene PM (1988) Production and viability of unreduced gametes in triploid interspecific blueberry hybrids. Theor Appl Genet 76:555–559
Ehlenfeldt MK and Ballington JR (2017) Prolific triploid production in 4x V. corymbodendron by 2x Section Cyanococcus crosses. Acta Hort
Ehlenfeldt MK, Hanneman RE Jr (1988) Genetic control of endosperm balance number (EBN)—three additive loci in a threshold-like system. Theor Appl Genet 75:825–832
Ehlenfeldt MK, Martin RB, Rowland LJ (2015) ‘Nocturne’ hybrid blueberry: a winter-hardy, mixed-species hexaploid with ornamental landscape interest and novel fruit quality. HortScience 50:1825–1827
Harlan JR, DeWet JMJ (1975) On Ö. Winge and a prayer: the origins of polyploidy. Bot Rev 41:361–390
Hokche O, Berry PE, Huber O (2008) Nuevo Cat Fl Vasc Venez, p. 859
Johnston SA, Hanneman RE Jr (1980) Support of the endosperm balance number hypothesis utilizing some tuber-bearing Solanum species. Am Potato J 57:7–14
Johnston SA, Hanneman RE Jr (1982) Manipulations of Endosperm Balance Number overcome crossing barriers between diploid Solanum species. Science 217:446–448
Johnston SA, den Nijs TPM, Peloquin SJ, Hanneman RE Jr (1980) The significance of genic balance to endosperm development in interspecific crosses. Theor Appl Genet 57:5–9
Köhler C, Scheid OM, Erilova A (2010) The impact of the triploid block on the origin and evolution of polyploid plants. Trends Genet 26:142–148
Lin B-Y (1978) Structural modifications of the female gametophyte associated with the indeterminate gametophyte (ig) mutant in maize. Can J Genet Cytol 20:249–257
Luby JJ, Ballington JR, Draper AD, Pizza K, Austin ME (1991) Blueberries and cranberries (Vaccinium). Acta Hort 290:391–456
Macbride JF (1959) Ericaceae, Flora of Peru. Publ Field Mus Nat Hist 13(5/1):50–149
Montelongo-Escobedo H, Rowe PR (1969) Haploid induction in potato: cytological basis for the pollinator effect. Euphytica 18:116–123
Ortiz R, Ehlenfeldt MK (1992) The importance of endosperm balance number in potato breeding and the evolution of tuber-bearing Solanum species. Euphytica 60:105–113
Schatlowski N, Wolff P, Santos-González J, Schoft V, Siretskiy A, Scott R, Tamaru H, Köhler C (2014) Hypomethylated pollen bypasses the interploidy hybridization barrier in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 26:3556–3568
von Wangenheim K-H, Peloquin SJ, Hougas RW (1960) Embryological investigations on the formation of haploids in the potato (Solanum tuberosum). Zeitschrift fiir Vererbungslehre 91:391–399
Vorsa N, Ballington JR (1991) Fertility of triploid highbush blueberry. J Am Soc Hort Sci 116:336–341
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ehlenfeldt, M.K., Ballington, J.R. Prolific triploid production in intersectional crosses of 4x Vaccinium corymbodendron Dunal (section Pyxothamnus) by 2x section Cyanococcus species. Euphytica 213, 238 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-017-2027-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-017-2027-9