Articles
APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY TO CITRUS CULTIVAR IMPROVEMENT AT THE CITRUS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER
Article number
535_26
Pages
213 – 222
Language
Abstract
Several strategies utilizing in vitro techniques and emerging biotechnologies are being employed at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) to develop improved scion and rootstock cultivars.
This paper will provide an overview of our progress in some of these efforts. (1) Somaclonal variation: more than 1000 somaclones of Hamlin and Valencia sweet orange are being evaluated, and data will be presented on superior clones selected for improved fruit quality or altered maturity date. (2) Somatic hybridization: our program has produced somatic hybrid plants from more than 100 different parental combinations.
Progress involving the use of these hybrids in rootstock and scion improvement will be discussed. (3) Embryo rescue/triploid production: information from in vitro embryo rescue experiments to recover triploid plants from interploid crosses will be discussed.
The goal of this project is to produce improved seedless fresh fruit cultivars. (4) Transformation: a new citrus transformation system that utilizes green fluorescence protein (GFP) as a selectable marker will be presented.
Colonies developing from transformed protoplasts are identified by expression of GFP and mechanically isolated, followed by plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis.
We are using this system to screen genes derived from citrus tristeza virus (CTV) for their ability to block CTV replication in transformed tissue of various sweet oranges.
This paper will provide an overview of our progress in some of these efforts. (1) Somaclonal variation: more than 1000 somaclones of Hamlin and Valencia sweet orange are being evaluated, and data will be presented on superior clones selected for improved fruit quality or altered maturity date. (2) Somatic hybridization: our program has produced somatic hybrid plants from more than 100 different parental combinations.
Progress involving the use of these hybrids in rootstock and scion improvement will be discussed. (3) Embryo rescue/triploid production: information from in vitro embryo rescue experiments to recover triploid plants from interploid crosses will be discussed.
The goal of this project is to produce improved seedless fresh fruit cultivars. (4) Transformation: a new citrus transformation system that utilizes green fluorescence protein (GFP) as a selectable marker will be presented.
Colonies developing from transformed protoplasts are identified by expression of GFP and mechanically isolated, followed by plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis.
We are using this system to screen genes derived from citrus tristeza virus (CTV) for their ability to block CTV replication in transformed tissue of various sweet oranges.
Authors
J.W. Grosser, F.G. Gmitter Jr, G.H. Fleming, J.L. Chandler
Keywords
Somaclonal variation, somatic hybridization, tissue culture, transformation, triploidy
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