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Breeding of polyploid heather (Calluna vulgaris)

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Abstract

Calluna vulgaris is an important landscaping plant in Northern Europe. As C. vulgaris is the only species within the genus Calluna, the available gene-pool for breeding is rather narrow and phenotypic variation is limited. Hence, a breeding program for polyploids was set up in order to broaden phenotypic variation in this important ornamental crop. Therefor basic genetic characteristics of polyploid C. vulgaris were analyzed using the progeny of a spontaneously occurring tetraploid genotype. With the help of morphological and molecular marker analysis, it was determined that the autotetraploid plant probably arose from unreduced gametes resulting from first division restitution. Tetraploids displayed tetrasomic inheritance with free combination of homologous and homeologous chromosomes. Triploids were semi-fertile with a high rate of aneuploids in their progeny. As the so-called bud-blooming flower type is a trait of outstanding interest in breeding of C. vulgaris, a strategy for efficient breeding of triploid bud-bloomers was deduced.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz-Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, Kuehnhaeuser Strasse 101, 99090, Erfurt, Germany

    Annett Przybyla, Anne Behrend & Annette Hohe

  2. Heidepflanzen de Winkel, Douvenberg 34, 47574, Goch-Kessel, Germany

    Christian Bornhake

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  1. Annett Przybyla
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  2. Anne Behrend
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  3. Christian Bornhake
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  4. Annette Hohe
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Correspondence to Annette Hohe.

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Przybyla, A., Behrend, A., Bornhake, C. et al. Breeding of polyploid heather (Calluna vulgaris). Euphytica 199, 273–282 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-014-1117-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-014-1117-1

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