Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association, via seminars and newsletter articles. The commercial nursery industry in the United States. Commercial Garden Centers. Homeowners and landscape professionals. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? 1. Seminars at professional meetings. 2. Presentations at commodity meetings. 3. Publications in nursrry industry newsletters. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Major goals were accomplished. Six cultivars of butterfly bush were released, with four of them demonstrating dwarf growth habit and female sterility. Two represented advances in development of novel flower color. Three cultivars of redbud were released. Two of represent new landscape forms combining novel leaf colors in weeping architecture, while the third represents the first release combining eastern redbud and Texas redbud germplasm.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2009
Citation:
Werner, D.J. and L.K. Snelling. 2009. 'Blue Chip' and 'Miss Ruby' Buddleja. HortScience 44: 841-842.
Werner, D.J. and L.K. Snelling. 2010. 'Ruby Falls' and 'Merlot' redbuds. HortScience 45: 146-147.
Werner, D.J. and L.K. Snelling. 2011. 'Purple Haze', 'Miss Molly', and 'Ice Chip'Buddleja. HortScience 46: 1330-1332.
Wadl, Philip A., Robert N. Trigiano, Dennis J. Werner, Margaret R. Pooler, and Timothy A. Rinehart. 2012. Simple sequence repeat markers (SSR's) from Cercis canadensis show wide cross-species transfer and utility in genetic studies. J.A.S.H.S. 137: 189-201.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Two new cultivars of butterfly bush (Buddleja) were commercialized in 2012. 'Ice Chip' is a compact, spreading cultivar with white flowers. It will be appropriate for use as a specimen plant or for use in mass as a ground cover. 'Ice Chip' is male sterile, and essentially female sterile, and hence sets no viable seed, eliminating the risk of escape from landscape settings. 'Lilac Chip' is a very compact cultivar with purple-pink flower color. It is male sterile, and has reduced female fertility, and sets fewer seed than typical cultivars currently in the trade. Advanced selections in other flower colors are currently under trial. Efforts in redbud (Cercis) have resulted in the development of numerous advanced selections with ornamental potential. Notably, we have combined golden leaf color, variegated leaf, dwarf plant habit, weeping architecture, double flower, and glossy leaf character in various combinations. Selection NC2008-1 combines the glossy leaf character derived from Cercis texensis with the double flower trait derived from 'Flame'. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: The U.S. Nursery industry is a target audience for the cultivars developed in this project. The industry is being encouraged to adopt the new sterile cultivars of Buddleja being developed in this program and abandon the use of highly fertile cultivars which can escape via seed dispersal from cultivated landscapes and become invasive in the wild. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Various genetic studies have been conducted in Cercis. Leaf variegation derived from the cultivar 'Floating Clouds' is maternally inherited, in contrast to the nuclear inheritance of variegation derived from 'Silver Cloud'. The golden leaf trait derived from both 'Hearts of Gold' and 'Rising Sun' is controlled by a nuclear gene. Genetic studies have confirmed that these 2 mutations are allelic. Segregation data in F2 families suggests that weeping growth habit and purple leaf color are each controlled by a single recessive gene. Weeping growth and purple leaf color are not linked.
Publications
- Wadl, P.A., R.N. Trigiano, D.J. Werner, M.R. Pooler, and T.A. Rinehart. 2012. Simple sequence repeat markers (SSR's) from Cercis canadensis show wide cross-species transfer and utility in genetic studies. J.A.S.H.S. 137: 189-201.
- McNair, M., A. Wilkins, and D. Werner. 2012. Wounding and chemical effects on Drosera capensis bud formation on leaf cuttings. J. Int. Carniv. Plt. Soc. 41:140-142.
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Two new cultivars of butterfly bush (Buddleja) were released in 2011. 'Ice Chip' is a compact, spreading cultivar with white flowers. It will be appropriate for use as a specimen plant or for use in mass as a ground cover. 'Ice Chip' is male sterile, and essentially female sterile, and hence sets no viable seed, eliminating the risk of escape from landscape settings. 'Lilac Chip' is a very compact cultivar with purple-pink flower color. It is male sterile, and has reduced female fertility, and sets fewer seed than typical cultivars currently in the trade. Results of these efforts in Buddleja breeding have been communicated to the scientific community through publication in scientific journals. Efforts in redbud (Cercis) have resulted in the development of numerous advanced selections with ornamental potential. Notably, we have combined golden leaf color, variegated leaf, dwarf plant habit, weeping architecture, double flower, and glossy leaf character in various combinations. Selection NC2008-1 combines the glossy leaf character derived from Cercis texensis with the double flower trait derived from 'Flame'. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: The U.S. Nursery industry is a target audience for the cultivars developed in this project. The industry is being encouraged to adopt the new sterile cultivars of Buddleja being developed in this program and abandon the use of highly fertile cultivars which can escape via seed dispersal from cultivated landscapes and become invasive in the wild. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Various genetic studies have been conducted in Cercis. Leaf variegation derived from the cultivar 'Floating Clouds' is maternally inherited, in contrast to the nuclear inheritance of variegation derived from 'Silver Cloud'. The golden leaf trait derived from both 'Hearts of Gold' and 'Rising Sun' is controlled by a nuclear gene. Segregation data in F2 families suggests that weeping growth habit and purple leaf color are each controlled by a single recessive gene.
Publications
- Werner, D.J. and L.K. Snelling. 2011. 'Purple Haze', 'Miss Molly', and 'Ice Chip' Buddleja. HortScience 46: 1330-1332.
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Two new cultivars of butterfly bush (Buddleja sp) were developed. 'Purple Haze' demonstrates compact growth habit, pendant panicles, attractive purple flower color, dense branching, and low seed set. 'Purple Haze' shows virtually no evidence of seed production in a field setting. 'Purple Haze' was derived from a hybridization of 'Miss Ruby' x ('Honeycomb' x ('Nanho Purple' x B. lindleyana)). 'Miss Molly' represents a significant breakthrough in flower color, exhibiting a deep fuchsia coloration, nearest to red as any commercial butterfly bush. 'Miss Molly' was derived from a summer 2004 hybridization of 'Attraction' x 'Miss Ruby'. 'Miss Molly' demonstrates semi-compact growth, a semi-upright growth habit, and dense foliage. Both cultivars have been released to the nursery industry and are now available in the commercial trade. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience is the landscape and nursery industry. Efforts have been made to educate this audience about the invasive potential of Buddleja and to encourage them to consider the cultivar 'Purple Haze' developed by this project as an more appropriate landscape option that is non-invasive. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
'Purple Haze' Buddleja has a significant impact on the nursery industry in that it represents another dwarf Buddleja cultivar available in the commercial trade. It also has significant impact in being sterile, and sets very low amounts of seed in a landscape setting. Hence, it presents an alternative to other Buddleja which set high amounts of seed and are potentially invasive in the landscape and natural habitats. The unique flower color of Buddleja 'Miss Molly' offers landscapers and homeowners another color alternative of this popular landscape plant.
Publications
- Werner, D.J. and L.K. Snelling. 2010. 'Ruby Falls' and 'Merlot' redbuds. HortScience 45:146-147.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: OUTPUTS: Three new cultivars of eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) were developed. 'Merlot' is a new and distinct cultivar of redbud being released as an alternative to 'Forest Pansy'. 'Merlot' originated as a second generation descendant from the hybridization of 'Texas White' (Cercis canadensis var. texensis) x 'Forest Pansy' (Cercis canadensis). 'Merlot' was selected for its attractive purple leaf color and semi-upright growth habit, in contrast to the open, spreading habit of 'Forest Pansy'. Leaves of 'Merlot' are smaller, thicker, and glossier than those of 'Forest Pansy', and maintain their attractive appearance well into the latter part of the growing season, unlike those of 'Forest Pansy' which often become unattractive and necrotic in late summer. Retention of purple color in leaves is similar to but slightly inferior to 'Forest Pansy'. 'Merlot' demonstrates excellent branching and dense growth, and is shorter in stature than 'Forest Pansy'. Flowering is prolific, and flower color is an attractive reddish-purple. Fertility of 'Merlot' is reduced as compared to most redbuds. Pods develop after flowering, but typically abort in early summer. Trials of 'Merlot' and 'Forest Pansy' in various testing locations have shown superior heat tolerance of 'Merlot' as compared to 'Forest Pansy', typical of its "texensis" parent. 'Ruby Falls' is a new and distinct cultivar of weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis) being released as an alternative to 'Covey'. 'Ruby Falls' originated as a second generation descendant from the controlled hybridization of 'Covey' x 'Forest Pansy' (both Cercis canadensis). 'Ruby Falls' was selected for its attractive purple leaf color and weeping growth habit. Retention of purple color in leaves during the growing season is similar to that of 'Forest Pansy'. 'Ruby Falls' demonstrates excellent branching. Flowering is prolific, and flower color is an attractive lavender. 'Whitewater' is a new and distinct cultivar of weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis) being released as an alternative to 'Covey'. 'Whitewater' originated as a second generation descendant from the 1999 controlled hybridization of 'Covey' x 'Silver Cloud' (both C. canadensis). 'Whitewater' was selected for its attractive variegated leaf color and weeping growth habit. Retention of variegation in leaves during the growing season is similar to that of 'Silver Cloud'. 'Whitewater' demonstrates excellent branching. All three new redbud releases have been trialed in central North Carolina (USDA hardiness zone 7b), and all have proven fully cold hardy in this location. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience is the landscape and nursery industry. Efforts have been made to educate this audience about these new cultivars and their potential use in landscape settings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
All three new redbud cultivars will have a significant impact on the nursery and landscape industry. 'Ruby Falls' is the first weeping, purple leaf cultivar of redbud to be released into commerce. It should fill a valuable niche for small landscapes in urban environments. 'Merlot' is the first purple leaf redbud to be released that incorporates the heat and drought tolerance inherent in Cercis canadensis var. texensis, and hence should play an important role in sustainable landscapes in the southeastern United States.
Publications
- Werner, D.J. and Snelling, L.K. 2009. 'Blue Chip' and 'Miss Ruby' Buddleja. HortScience 44: 841-842.
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Two new cultivars of butterfly bush (Buddleja sp) were developed. 'Blue Chip' demonstrates compact growth habit, attractive blue flower color, dense branching, and low seed set. 'Miss Ruby' represents a significant breakthrough in flower color, exhibiting a bright fuchsia-pink coloration. Results have been disseminated to the international community by including both cultivars in the Royal Horticultural Society All-European Buddleja trials in Wisely, England. Domestically, both cultivars have been released to the nursery industry and are now available in the commercial trade. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience is the landscape and nursery industry. Efforts have been made to educate this audience about the invasive potential of Buddleja and to encourage them to consider the cultivar 'Blue Chip' developed by this project as an more appropriate landscape option that is less or non-invasive. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
'Blue Chip' Buddleja has a significant impact on the nursery industry in that it represents the first truly dwarf Buddleja cultivar developed and available in the commercial trade. It also has significant impact in that it is nearly sterile, and sets very low amounts of seed in a landscape setting. Hence, it presents an alternative to other Buddleja which set high amounts of seed and are potentially invasive in the landscape and natural habitats. The unique flower color of Buddleja 'Miss Ruby' offers landscapers and homeowners another color alternative of this popular landscape plant.
Publications
- Barb, J.G., Werner, D.J., and Griesbach, R.J. 2008. Genetics and biochemistry of flower color in stokes aster. J.A.S.H.S. 133:1-10.
- Barb, J.G., Werner, D.J., and Tallury, S. 2008. Cytogenetic characterization and nuclear DNA content characterization of diploid and tetraploid forms of stokes aster. HortScience. 43:2005-2012.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Two new cultivars of Buddleja davidii (butterfly bush) have been released in 2007. 'Blue Chip' is a dwarf, mounding form that is appropriate as a container plant, ground cover, or for specimen use in the landscape. 'Miss Ruby' is a semi-compact upright form that demonstrates bright pink flower color, unique in the species. Both cultivars have been made available to the commercial nursery industry, and will be available in the retail sector in late 2008 to early 2009. 'Blue Chip' is highly infertile, and produces few seed, and thus will not become weedy like other Buddleja cultivars. New selections of Buddleja evaluated in 2006 and 2007 have shown extreme dwarf architecture and total female sterility. Six advanced selections of redbud, Cercis canadensis, were chosen for future release and are currently being propagated for stock increase in anticipation of formal release in 2010 or 2011. Unique forms include: 1). purple leaf, weeping architecture, 2). variegated leaf, weeping
architecture, 3). purple leaf form of Cercis texensis var. texensis, demonstrating the rounded, glossy leaf typical of botanical variety texensis, 4). a purple leaf, compact form of Cercis canadensis var. texensis, 5). A purple leaf, variegated form of Cercis canadensis var. texensis.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience includes the nursery and landscape industry, the Garden Writers Association of North America, and the public. These groups will be educated about the new ornamental forms of plants being generated in this project, and the value of sterily in the selections of Buddleja being considered for commercial release in the future.
Impacts
The products of this project have generated sterile forms of a potentially invasive landscape plant, Buddleja, which will present the nursery and landscape industry with a new marketing opportunity to promote this important landscape plant. The deployment of sterile forms of Buddleja will reduce the risk of escape from landscape settings, and reduce invasive potential. In Cercis, the product of this project will provide the nursery industry and consumers with a new repertoire of unique ornamental forms of this important landscape tree.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Buddleja selections NC2003-22 and NC2004-9 underwent final testing, and will be released in early 2007. NC2003-22 shows compact growth habit and bright pink flower color. NC2004-9 shows compact growth, blue flowers, dense growth, and male sterility. Other Buddleja selections showing novel flower colors and compact growth were made in 2006. Successful hybridization of Cercis 'Texas White' and 'Hearts of Gold' was accomplished in 2006. Seed was recovered from the typically female sterile cultivar 'Flame', and progeny are being evaluated for growth habit, cold-hardiness, and flower color. Advanced Cercis selection NC2004-6 shows attractive purple leaves and tree and foliar characteristics typical of Texas redbud. Progeny demonstrating novel combinations of leaf color (variegated, purple, lime green) and growth habit (weeping, semi-weeping) were recovered in segregating families in 2006. In Cercis, the characters weeping, purple leaf, golden leaf, and variegated leaf
behave as simple recessive traits. Double flower derived from the cultivar 'Flame' is dominant.
Impacts
Development of new and improved cultivars of Stokesia, Buddleja and Cercis will benefit the economy of the nursery industry, and provide consumers with superior plants and greater choices for the home landscape. Development of sterile Buddleja will allow marketing of cultivars that will not be invasive in the landscape, a major concern with this ornamental taxa. Development of compact forms of Buddleja, typically a large shrub, will allow Buddleja to be used in new ways in the urban landscape.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
Progress was made in the development of compact, sterile Buddleja. Blue-flowered selection NC2004-9 was evaluated in advanced trials at 2 locations, and demonstrated extreme compactness, total male sterility, and very low female fertility. Purple-flowered selection NC2004-13 underwent final field and greenhouse testing. These tests confirmed that NC2004-13 is totally male and female sterile. NC2003-22, demonstrating compact growth habit and a unique bright pink flower color, underwent final trial. All three selections are planned for commercial release in 2006-2007. New selections were made in the Cercis breeding program. We currently have in advanced trial purple leaf forms of Cercis canadensis var. texensis, variegated Cercis canadensis var. mexicana selections, and white-flowered forms with variegation similar to 'Silver Cloud'. Two selections demonstrating both the weeping and variegated growth habit have been identified and are under advanced trial. Second
generation seedlings demonstrating both purple leaf color and weeping growth habit were derived from a cross of 'Lavender Twist' x 'Forest Pansy' . Weeping growth habit, variegated foliage, and purple leaf color all behave as recessive characters. Cytological studies revealed that Stokesia cultivar 'Omega Skyrocket' (OSR) is a tetraploid form; all other cultivars tested have been confirmed to be diploid. A range of diploid cultivars representing the range of existing colors have been doubled to the tetraploid level using colchicine. the doubled forms have been hybridized with OSR in order to develop a series of upright types in a range of flower colors.
Impacts
Development of new and improved cultivars of Stokesia, Buddleja and Cercis will benefit the economy of the nursery industry, and provide consumers with superior plants and greater choices for the home landscape. Development of sterile Buddleja will allow marketing of cultivars that will not be invasive in the landscape, a major concern with this ornamental taxa.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Breeding efforts in Buddleja have resulted in the development of numerous advanced selections with cultivar potential. Two advanced selections demonstrating branched panicle architecture similar to cultivar Dartmoor, but with different leaf and/or flower colors have been developed. Five advanced selections with extreme compact growth habit in a range of colors have been developed. Three Buddleja selections demonstrating both male and female sterility are under final trial to confirm lack of fertility. Ten advanced selections of Stokes aster are under advanced testing. These selections represent a series of compact types with upright scape architecture in a range of flower colors, including white, yellow, and dark purple. Efforts in Cercis (redbud) breeding have resulted in the development of interesting advanced selections with combinations of characters not previously found in redbud. We have successfully combined the variegated trait derived from Silver Cloud with
the weeping character derived from Covey. F2 segregants showing purple leaf color and lack of leaf pubescence have been derived from the cross of Texas White x Forest Pansy.
Impacts
Development of new and improved cultivars of Stokesia, Buddleia, Cercis, and Lantana will benefit the economy of the nursery industry, and provide consumers with superior plants and greater choices for the home landscape. Development of sterile Buddleja will allow marketing of cultivars that will not be invasive in the landscape, a major concern with this ornamental taxa.
Publications
- Elliott, W., Werner, D. and Fantz, P. 2004. A Hybrid of Buddleja davidii var. nanhoensis Nanho Purple and B. lindleyana. HortScience 97:1581-1583.
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
Crosses between Buddleia cultivar White Ball and hybrids of B. davidii and B. lindleyana have given rise to a series of extremely compact progeny demonstrating purple or white flower color. Hybridization between these compact types is being accomplished to broaden the color range. Investigation of Buddleia cultivar Honeycomb (B. davidii x B. globosa) has revealed that it is totally male sterile, and partially female fertile. Hybridization of Honeycomb with cultivars of B. davidii give rise to progeny that are highly male and female sterile. Because of the risk of invasiveness in many existing sexually-fertile Buddleia cultivars, these sterile progeny will be evaluated for potential selections to facilitate release of a series of sterile, non-invasive cultivars. Two novel progeny demonstrating a unique, weeping growth habit were selected in 2003. This novel architecture has never been reported in Buddleia to date, and presents the opportunity to use Buddleia for
alternative landscape purposes. Crosses have been made to study inheritance of the weeping character. Cytological studies in Stokesia laevis (Stokes Aster) has revealed that cultivar Omega Skyrocket possesses a different chromosome number as compared to all other Stokes Aster cultivars, explaining the low seed set and aberrant segregation ratios obtained in progeny and families derived from Omega Skyrocket. Considerable progress has been made in the development of yellow-flowered types with improved plant stature. Numerous advanced selections currently are under test . Studies of the cold-hardy Lantana cultivar Miss Huff revealed that it is male sterile and female fertile, refuting prior reports that it is both male and female sterile. Hybrids of Miss Huff with cold tender cultivars representing a range of flower colors were made with the objective of developing a series of cold-hardy Lantana cultivars. F2 seed segregating for the weeping growth habit character and other novel
phenotypic traits (variegation, purple leaf color) was obtained from F1 isolation plantings of Cercis (redbud). Progeny will be screened for recovery of desirable recombinants demonstrating novel combinations of characters with desirable ornamental attributes.
Impacts
Development of new and improved cultivars of Stokesia, Buddleia, Cercis, and Lantana will benefit the economy of the nursery industry, and provide consumers with superior plants and greater choices for the home landscape.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
Crosses between Buddleia cultivar White Ball and hybrids of B. davidii and B. lindleyana have given rise to a series of extremely compact progeny demonstrating purple or white flower color. Hybridization with these compact types is being made to broaden the color range. Branched panicle architecture derived from Buddleia Dartmoor is heritable. Segregation was shown in 4 different F2 families. Genetic studies in Stokes Aster have revealed that yellow flower color is recesive to purple. Segregation for yellow flower color was obtained in crosses of Mary Gregory x Peaches, but not in progeny of Mary Gregory x Omega Skyrocket. Various selections of Stokes Aster are currently under advanced trial. Investigation of the anthocyanins in Stokes Aster showed that the predominant aglycone in most cultivars is petunidin. Cyanidin was detected only in the cultivar Colorwheel. Preliminary genetic studies in Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud) have shown that the variegated trait
found in cultivar Silver Cloud is heritable, and segregates as a single gene recessive. Crosses between Alba and the double flowered cultivar Flame have shown that double flower and purple pigmentation are dominant. Double flower types appear to be female sterile and male fertile. The ability of Flame to be propagated by stem cuttings, rare in redbud, is transmitted to its first generation progeny. Genetic transmission of the purple leaf trait found in Forest Pansy redbud was demonstrated.
Impacts
Development of new and improved cultivars of Stokesia, Buddleia, and Cercis will benefit the economy of the nursery industry, and provide consumers with superior plants and greater choices for the home landscape.
Publications
- Gettys, L. and Werner, D.J. 2002. Stokes aster. HortTechnology 12:138-142.
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Progress 10/01/00 to 09/30/01
Outputs
Various F2 families derived from numerous parental combinations were evaluated in the field. The albescens (white) flower color was recessive to blue and purple. Upright architecture derived from Omega Skyrocket was dominant to wild-type architecture. Hybridization of an albescent parent with the yellow-flowered Mary Gregory yielded purple-flowered offspring. F2 families derived from this combination segregated for white, yellow, and purple flower color. Segregants in other families showed flower morphology unlike that described previously in Stokes Aster. Hybridization of Buddleia Nanho Purple with B. lindleyana was accomplished. Second generation offspring from this cross demonstrate flower size that exceeds that typically found in cultivars of B. davidii. Efforts in redbud (Cercis canadensis) breeding have shown that the variegated trait found in cultivar Silver Cloud is heritable, and preliminary evidence suggests simple Mendelian inheritance.
Impacts
Development of new and improved cultivars of Stokesia. Buddleia, and Cercis will fuel the growth of the nursery/green industry and provide consumers with superior plants and greater choices for the home landscape.
Publications
- Gettys, L.A. and D.J. Werner. 2001. Determination of genetic diversity and relatedness among cultivars of stokes aster [Stokesia laevis (J. Hill) Greene] using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). HortScience 36(6): 1121-1124.
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
F2 seed of Stokes Aster was obtained from an isolated F1 family derived from crossing cultivars Mary Gregory x Omega Skyrocket. F2 seed has been germinated and plants will be field-evaluated in 2001 to recover desirable segregants. Investigations of reproductive biology of Stokes Aster revealed that all cultivars tested, with the exception of cultivar Alba, demonstrate self-incompatibility. Alba set high amounts of self seed. Analysis of genetic relatedness among cultivars of Stokes Aster using molecular markers revealed that most cultivars are highly related, showing similarity indices of 0.80 or greater. Cultivar Omega Skyrocket was an exception, exhibiting a mean similarity index of 0.69 compared to all other cultivars, confirming its genetic distinctness. Inheritance studies have shown that blue is dominant to both white and yellow flower color. A dwarf mutant and a mutant demonstrating unusual flower morphology (rudimentary petal development and lack of flower
closure at night) was recovered in the F1 progeny of the cross Mary Gregory x Omega Skyrocket. Genetic studies of the branched inflorescence character in Buddleia davidii showed that branched panicle is recessive to normal inflorescence. Crosses between Clethra alnifolia Ruby Spice, showing intense pink flower color, with the white-flowered cultivar Hummingbird, produced F1 progeny with light pink flowers, suggesting pink color is recessive, or that Ruby Spice is a periclinal chimera, and will not genetically transmit intense pink color.
Impacts
Development of new and improved cultivars of Stokesia, Buddleia, and other ornamental taxa will benefit the economy of nursery industry, and provide consumers with superior plants and greater choices for the home landscape.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
Hybridization efforts focused on the genera Stokesia, Cercis, and Buddleia. Hybridization between Stokesia laevis cultivars Mary Gregory (MG) and Omega Skyrocket (OSR) was accomplished in order to combine the upright growth of OSR and the yellow flower color of MG. Over 100 F1 plants were obtained. F2 seed and progeny will be produced in year 2000. Hybridization between the variegated cultivar Cercis canadensis Silver Cloud and various non-variegated cultigens was accomplished. No hybrid offspring showed variegated foliage when Silver Cloud was used as either a male or female parent, suggesting that variegation is recessive and controlled by a nuclear rather than a cytoplasmic gene. Crosses with the weeping cultivar Covey showed that weeping growth habit was recessive. Hybridization between the yellow flowered Buddleia cv. Honeycomb with various cultigens demonstrating white and purple flower color showed that yellow flower color is recessive. Crosses between diploid
and colchicine induced polyploids in Buddleia were unsuccessful, suggesting the existence of a triploid block in this genus.
Impacts
Genetic studies of Cercis canadensis, Stokesia laevis, and Buddleia sp. will broaden our basic knowledge of the genetics and inheritance of traits in these important ornamental species, and result in improved efficiency of breeding programs in these species. Development of new and novel cultivars in these species will provide the nursery and landscape industry with improved plants for marketing, and make available improved garden and ornamental plants to the public.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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