Conifers
Domestication of elite trees now employs several technologies to capture genetic gains, introduce new genetic variation and test genotype x environment interactions. The efficient capturing genetic gains for specific heritable and complex traits through cell and tissue culture requires several factors. These include a selection differential, correlations of gene expression in juvenile and mature trees to enhance progeny tests, and methods such as protoplast fusion and recombinant DNA methods to reduce the length of the breedings cycle. Until recently, improvement programs employing micropropagation have used juvenile specimens. Now with improved methods for surface sterilizing explants and specific nutrient media it is possible on a small scale to clonally propagate individual mature conifers. The expression of important traits in propagules multiplied in vitro and planted in the field can be followed using methods of biochemical genetics. Species of mature trees that have been studied in our laboratory now include Abies, Pinus, Pseudotsuga and Prunus. Traits sought are color of foliage, blister-rust resistance, rapid growth rate, resistance to Phytophthera spp., and early and late maturity. The effect of environment x genes will be illustrated using 3-dimensional computer generated maps revealing quantitatively the metabolic networks that emerge during true and somatic embryo development. This methodology will assist in establishing true-to-type gene expression as distinct from somaclonal aberrations based on topophysis, cyclophysis and periphysis in the mature mother tree. It will also allow us to evaluate the expression of newly introduced genes
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
San José (Costa Rica)
1985
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| Subjects: | CULTIVO DE TEJIDOS, CONIFERAS, PRUNUS, EMBRIONES, ABIES, PINUS, PSEUDOTSUGA, FITOMEJORAMIENTO, DOMESTICACION, |
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