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Jashs Article p627
Jashs Article p627
Rootstocks for Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.) cultivars nomic features of the fruits indicated that they were probably
include seedling J. hindsii Jeps. ex R.E. Smith, ‘Paradox’ (J. hybrids between P. stenoptera and P . fraxinifolia (Lam.) Spach.
hindsii X J. regia), J. regia, and Pterocarya stenoptera C.D.C. This origin was confirmed by W.E. Manning (personal com-
The relative merits of each type of rootstock, as well as their munication) after examination of the fruits.
response to pests and diseases recently have been reviewed (13). Controlled pollinations (12) between J. hindsii, J. regia, and
Foremost among the root-related problems in walnut are root Pterocarya sp. were performed in the field in 1983 and 1984.
lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus vulnus Allen and Jensen) (8) In 1983, pollen germination on the stigma in all possible com-
and the Phytophthora root and crown rots caused by several binations (including reciprocals) was observed using methods
species of Phytophthora (14). Recently, wingnut (P. stenoptera) described by Martin (10). Twelve flowering shoots (10-15 cm
has been shown to have substantially higher levels of resistance long) from one individual per species were collected several
to these pests than other potential rootstock species tested (9, days prior to anthesis and forced in tap water in the laboratory.
11, 14). It has also been shown to have higher tolerance to Male and female parents were selected solely on their devel-
water logging (3). opment stage. When flowers were at peak receptivity (5), they
Wingnut is used as a walnut rootstock in the northern prov- were placed in 4 physically isolated groups. Each group con-
inces of China (4). Graft compatibility with J. regia was first tained 3 shoots from each species. The flowers were then hand-
reported in the United States in 1948 (18). However, subsequent pollinated with one of the 3 sources of pollen. One group served
reports (15) indicated that it was not fully compatible with all as an unpollinated control. Twenty-four hours after pollination
walnut cultivars, and growers have been discouraged from using flowers were excised for storage and later microscopic exami-
P. stenoptera even in compatible combinations because it suck- nation.
ers profusely and roots tend to be close to the soil surface. These Because results in 1983 suggested that a crossing barrier be-
disadvantages suggested that P. stenoptera might be most useful tween Pterocarya and Juglans might occur after fertilization,
as a source of germplasm for breeding pest- and disease-resistant but before seed maturity, immature seeds derived from the con-
rootstocks rather than as a rootstock itself. No literature is avail- trolled pollination (Pterocarya sp. X J. regia ‘Gustine’) were
able on crossability between these 2 genera. collected about 2 months after pollination in 1984. A total of
The purpose of the following study was to determine the 22 ovules was removed from surface-sterilized fruits and placed
feasibility of producing walnut X wingnut hybrids for use in on the basal medium used for walnut culture (16). A subset of
rootstock improvement. This paper reports the successful pro- 7 ovules was placed on the basal medium with one-half the
duction of 2 hybrid clones using controlled pollination followed normal concentration of dipotassium sulfate (K2S 0 4). No in-
by ovule culture and somatic embryogenesis. Hybridization was duction medium (16) was used to stimulate somatic embryo-
confirmed by isozyme analysis. genesis. The culture methods and techniques for regenerating
plants were the same as those used for walnut (16).
Materials and Methods Plants were obtained by selecting normal, vigorous somatic
embryos from among the many abnormal and fused embryos
The parent trees were grown in collections at the Univ. of
produced in culture. Five embryos with cotyledons and radicle
California, Davis. The wingnut parents had been identified in
were given a cold treatment of 2°-6°C for 8 weeks to break
the collections as P. stenoptera, but examination of the taxo-
dormancy.
After cold treatment, embryos were transferred to fresh basal
medium and grown under lights (87 |xmoFs_1*m_2, 16-hr pho-
Received for publication 3 Oct. 1985. This material is based on work partially toperiod) at 24°C for 4-6 weeks. Germinated embryos were then
supported by the Walnut Marketing Board and ARS/USDA Cooperative Agree-
moved to peat plugs (Castle and Cook, Techniculture, Salinas,
ment NO. 58-9AH Z-1-626. The use of product names does not imply endorse-
ment by U S D A . W e w ould like to thank E. Sutter and C. L eslie for critical Calif.) for further root and shoot development.
review o f the manuscript. The cost of publishing this paper was defrayed in After 2-4 weeks, growing plantlets were transferred to ster-
part by the payment o f page charges. Under postal regulations, this paper there- ilized soil in 23.7-ml (8-oz) foam cups for one month and then
fore must be hereby marked advertisement solely to indicate this fact,
to 20.3-cm (8-inch) pots covered with polyethylene. Acclima-
horticulturist ARS/USDA.
2Professor, Dept, o f Biology, Antioch College, Ohio.
tization occurred as the polyethylene was perforated over a 2—
•Postgraduate research geneticist. 4 week period.
4Agriculture research technician, ARS/USDA. Starch gel electrophoresis was used to confirm parentage of
Fig. 1. Germination of J. regia pollen on stigma of Pterocarya sp. Fig. 2. Repetitively embryogenic culture of Pterocarya sp. X J . regia
(30 x). culture shows embryos in various stages of development.
J. A m e r . S o c . Ho r t . Sc i . lll(4):630-634. 1986.
Bermudagrass was introduced to the United States from Af- N-m_2*year-1) provided the highest turf quality on ‘Ormond’
rica by 1751 (9). Its value as a turfgrass was recognized in the bermudagrass, and 25 g N*m_2*year_1 provided the lowest turf
United States by 1917 (19), and it was planted on golf courses quality.
(4) and lawns (6) in Florida at least by the 1920s. Subsequently, Because of its fine-leaved texture, high density, and traffic
bermudagrass cultivars, including the vegetatively propagated tolerance, bermudagrass is appropriate for sports turfs and lawns.
hybrids ‘Tifway’ and ‘Tifgreen’, were intentionally developed With the limited use of bermudagrass in Florida home lawns
through breeding (2). Considerable germplasm was evaluated and other low-maintenance areas (8), a search among bermu-
in the southern United States from 1955 through 1962 (10). dagrass introductions was undertaken to discover germplasm
Bermudagrass turf requires high maintenance, particularly in that would establish and persist as a turf under natural pest
subtropical Florida, where severe pest populations frequently infestation and suboptimal N fertilization.
require control. Pest problems encountered are mole crickets
(15), tropical sod webworm (12), bermudagrass stunt mite (14), Materials and Methods
nematodes (11), and weeds. Nitrogen rates that provide maxi-
mum quality of hybrid bermudagrass in warm humid climates Cycle 1, 1976-1979. Stolons of 69 introduced clones of ber-
range from 116 to 180 g N*m-2 *year-1 (1, 16). Bermudagrass mudagrass were obtained from W.R. Langford (ARS/USDA,
turf grown on sandy soil requires additional N to compensate Reg. Plant Intro. Sta., Experiment, GA 30212). Most had been
for losses due to leaching (17). In a one-growing season study collected by W.W. Huffine in Zimbabwe and the Republic of
in north Florida (5), the highest fertilization rate used (45 g South Africa. During initial expansion, 26 clones were dis-
carded due to duplications of vegetative traits, caterpillar dam-
age, and ungainly stature, leaving 43 clones in Cycle 1. Other
Received for publication 4 Apr. 1985. University of Florida Agricultural Ex- clones selected for comparison included 5 (FB-prefixes) that had
periment Station Journal Series 6295. Special thanks are given to Dr. W .W . persisted for several years without fertilization in plots at Fort
Huffine, who collected most of the plant materials, and to Ms. B.J. Center,
Lauderdale, and cultivars ‘Tifgreen’ and ‘Tifway’. Sprigs of
who provided expert technical assistance throughout these investigations. The
cost o f publishing this paper was defrayed in part by the payment of page
these 7 clones were obtained directly from field plots (and not
charges. Under postal regulations, this paper therefore must be hereby marked prepropagated), which may have affected their early perform-
advertisement solely to indicate this fact. ance.