RESEARCH IN CARYOLOGY AND CYTOGENETICS ON PLUM-TREES

The hypothesis of CRANE and LAWRENCE on the hybrid origin of the domestic plum, Prunus domestica, is confirmed, it seems, by the practical results which Doctor RYBINE and the Russian school obtained and thus reveals new ways of improvement.
Such programs based on interspecific hybridization must necessarily be directed by the new notions acquired on the cytogenetical and caryological knowledges of the species.

Research based on chromosome counts sould remedy the deficiencies of morphological observations.

Research in caryology should bring additional elements to the clarification of systematics which still remains rather intricate in the case of subgenus Prunophora.

Research in cytogenetics while presenting the above mentioned interests constitutes more over a safe basic ground for the study on specific phylogeny and for the planning of hybridization between species aiming at improvement programs.

The passage from one generation to the other being a very slow process with fruit trees we nevertheless started upon two research programs:

1. Research in caryology and cytogenetics,

2. Creation of interspecific hybrids

• for theoretical research,

• for improvement programs.

We shall deal successively with these subjects.

Symposium of Working Group on Plum Genetics and Plum Breeding

G. SALESSES

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1968.10.12