Abstract
The Endosperm Balance Number (EBN) of over 80 species and subspecies of the tuber-bearing Solanums and their close non-tuber-bearing relatives representing 13 taxonomic series has been determined, with no species assigned to more than one EBN level. Among North American species, most diploids are 1EBN, most tetraploids are 2EBN and all hexaploids are 4EBN; however, among South American species most diploids are 2EBN, most tetraploids are 4EBN and again all hexaploids are 4EBN. Thus species may be isolated from others of the same ploidy level by EBN differences, e.g., 4×(2EBN) from 4×(4EBN), while other species differing in ploidy but having the same EBN may be intercrossed, e.g., 4×(2EBN) and 2×(2EBN). Chromosome doubling or 2n gametes can be used to make a lower EBN species compatible with a higher EBN species. These findings also explain the major crossing difficulties previously inherent in the use of North American species in potato improvement. They also have direct implications for potato improvement, barring the occurrence of other incompatibility barriers. Any 4×(4EBN) cultivar is endosperm compatible and thus will cross with 4×(4EBN) and 6×(4EBN) species. The 2×(2EBN) haploids of 4×(4EBN) cultivars likewise will hybridize with 2×(2EBN) and 4×(4EBN) species. All 2×(1EBN) species are crossable with 2×(2EBN) haploids through 2n gametes or chromosome doubling.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dionne, L.A., 1961. Mechanisms of interspecific incompatibility in Solanum species. Amer. Potato J. 38: 73–77.
Ehlenfeldt, M.K. & R.E. HannemanJr., 1984. The use of Endosperm Balance Number and 2n gametes to transfer exotic germplasm in potato. Theor. Appl. Genet. 68: 155–161.
Hawkes, J.G., 1958. Kartoffel. 1. Taxonomy, cytology and crossability. In: H. Kappert and W. Rudorf (Eds.), Handbuch der Pflanzenzuchtung Vol. 3, pp. 1–43. Paul Parey, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
Hawkes, J.G., 1990. The potato-Evolution, biodiversity, and genetic resources. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C., 259 pp.
Hawkes, J.G. & M.T. Jackson, 1992. Taxonomic and evolutionary implications of the Endosperm Balance Number hypothesis in potatoes. Theor. Appl. Genet. 84: 180–185.
Johnston, S.A. & R.E. HannemanJr., 1980. Support of the Endosperm Balance Number hypothesis utilizing some tuberbearing Solanum species. Amer. Potato J. 57: 7–14.
Johnston, S.A. & R.E. HannemanJr., 1982. Manipulations of Endosperm Balance Number overcome crossing barriers between diploid Solanum species. Science 217: 446–448.
Johnston, S.A., T.P.M. den Nijs, S.J. Peloquin & R.E. HannemanJr., 1980. The significance of genic balance to endosperm development in interspecific crosses. Theor. Appl. Genet. 57: 5–9.
Martin, F.W., 1958. Staining and observing pollen tubes in the style by means of fluorescence. Stain Technol. 34: 125–128.
Ochoa, C.M., 1992. Determinations of chromosome number (2n) and Endosperm Balance Number (EBN) in some little known tuber-bearing Solanum. Phytologia 73(3): 180–182.
Ortiz, R. & M.K. Ehlenfeldt, 1992. The importance of Endosperm Balance Number in potato breeding and the evolution of tuberbearing Solanum species. Euphytica 60: 105–113.
Pandey, K.K., 1962. Interspecific incompatibility in Solanum species. Amer. J. Bot. 49: 874–882.
Peloquin, S.J. & R.W. Hougas, 1959. Decaptation and genetic markers as related to haploidy in Solanum tuberosum. Eur. Potato J. 2: 176–183.
Singsit, C. & R.E. HannemanJr., 1991. Rescuing abortive inter-EBN potato hybrids through double pollination and embryo culture. Plant Cell Rep. 9: 475–478.
Watanabe, K., C. Arbizu & P.E. Schmiediche, 1992. Potato germplasm enhancement with disomic tetraploid Solanum acaule. I Efficiency of introgression. Genome 35: 53–57.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Cooperative investigation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, and the Wisconsin Experiment Station.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hanneman, R.E. Assignment of Endosperm Balance Numbers to the tuber-bearing Solanums and their close non-tuber-bearing relatives. Euphytica 74, 19–25 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00033762
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00033762