Articles
Corema album: from the wild to the field
Article number
1357_56
Pages
403 – 409
Language
English
Abstract
Corema album (L.) D. Don a long-lived, dioecious evergreen shrub is native from Atlantic dunes in the Iberian Peninsula and produces white edible berries.
As a new berry there is great interest in the production and marketing of its fruits.
Accompanying this growing interest in the species, INIAV initiated the development of a research program with several lines that are underway.
The relationship between fruit and seed size is one of the most important selection criteria in this species.
Some studies of plant morphology and anatomy, namely flower biology were performed.
Being a plant that inhabits dunes with extreme temperature conditions and lack of water in the summer period, it is expected that the germination of their seeds is difficult.
Thus, several germination trials have been developed with different types of scarification and stratification with uneven results obtained.
In order to understand embryo maturity and seed dormancy, histological sections of embryos were done during the stages of seed and cotyledon development.
A germplasm collection from ten origins was established at INIAV Experimental farm at Fataca.
To evaluate the phenological behaviour of plants from different origins, a phenological BBCH scale was proposed.
Vegetative propagation tests were also carried out, assessing rooting capacity between different genotypes of distinct origins.
Genetic diversity assessment based on ISSR markers and agro-morphological traits was done in four different sites along the Portuguese coast.
Results show that genetic diversity was higher between populations than within them.
The agro-morphological traits showed high diversity, but they were not associated to geographic localization.
The opportunity for development of a new berry crop presents many potential benefits as well as new challenges.
Mass selection of wild plants was performed in 5 km at Meco coastal dune with special focus on fruit characteristics, mainly fruit and seed size, with the selection of 20 superior clones. Corema album has great potential as a new berry crop for the coastal region of Portugal.
However, more detailed studies for improving agronomic practices are needed.
As a new berry there is great interest in the production and marketing of its fruits.
Accompanying this growing interest in the species, INIAV initiated the development of a research program with several lines that are underway.
The relationship between fruit and seed size is one of the most important selection criteria in this species.
Some studies of plant morphology and anatomy, namely flower biology were performed.
Being a plant that inhabits dunes with extreme temperature conditions and lack of water in the summer period, it is expected that the germination of their seeds is difficult.
Thus, several germination trials have been developed with different types of scarification and stratification with uneven results obtained.
In order to understand embryo maturity and seed dormancy, histological sections of embryos were done during the stages of seed and cotyledon development.
A germplasm collection from ten origins was established at INIAV Experimental farm at Fataca.
To evaluate the phenological behaviour of plants from different origins, a phenological BBCH scale was proposed.
Vegetative propagation tests were also carried out, assessing rooting capacity between different genotypes of distinct origins.
Genetic diversity assessment based on ISSR markers and agro-morphological traits was done in four different sites along the Portuguese coast.
Results show that genetic diversity was higher between populations than within them.
The agro-morphological traits showed high diversity, but they were not associated to geographic localization.
The opportunity for development of a new berry crop presents many potential benefits as well as new challenges.
Mass selection of wild plants was performed in 5 km at Meco coastal dune with special focus on fruit characteristics, mainly fruit and seed size, with the selection of 20 superior clones. Corema album has great potential as a new berry crop for the coastal region of Portugal.
However, more detailed studies for improving agronomic practices are needed.
Publication
Authors
T. Valdiviesso, C.S. Trindade, J. Jacinto, P.B. Oliveira
Keywords
white crowberry, seed germination, vegetative propagation, phenology, morphology, selection, sexual reproduction
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