Breeding of horticultural cropsat the Department of Plant Biology, University of Helsinki
Breeding of a boysenberry-like plant for Finnish conditionsAim of the project is to combine the earlines and winter hardiness of raspberries with high yields and resistance characteristics of blackberries. In the interspecific crosses of the breeding program, raspberry (Rubus idaeus) cultivars 'Asker', 'Muskoka', and 'Ottawa' were used as mother plants. Pollen source was either a R .allegheniensis-type blackberry cultivar 'Majestät' or a hybrid berry cultivar 'Tayberry'. Several promising clones with reasonable or good winter hardiness have been selected from the hybrid progeny. The main problem with many of these hybrids is nearly complete sterility, which is typical to the primary interspecific Rubus hybrids. In attempt to overcome this problem, artificial polyploidisation has been attempted to produce cytologically more balanced plants. Occasionally found open pollinated seedlings are also being screened for any improvements in the fertility. - The project was started in 1986.Researchers: Kristiina Antonius-Klemola, Peter Tigerstedt
Breeding Hippophaë rhamnoides L. for multiple use as a fruit- and ornamental plantSea buckthorn is indigenous in Finland. It has a wide natural distribution and some related species grow naturally in China.The berries have traditionally been used in the food and cosmetic industries, particularly in China but also in Finland. The aim of this project is to develop new cultivars by wide hybridization within the family. The project has so far resulted in one doctoral dissertation (Y.Yao, 1994), Genetic diversity, evolution and domestication in Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Following this dissertation selection has been undertaken in hybrid orchards and at present a practical tissue culture method is under development. It is planned to form an EU-project including Sweden, France and Italy. - The project was started in 1989.Researcher: Peter Tigerstedt
Other Hippophaë sites/Muuta tyrnistä: Breeding of Flowering QuinceJapanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) has been grown as an ornamental in the Nordic countries for at least 70 years. Its aromatic fruits have been used in the food industries of the Baltic states fof approximately the same period. Seventy years of use has now resulted in selection of ornamental and aromatic values that can be combined in a breeding program aiming at efficient use of the quince fruits in the food industry. This program in an EU-funded FAIR-program coordinated by Sweden with participation of Spain, France, Lithuania and Finland. Research studies include: 1) plant breeding methods, 2) cultivation and 3) industrial use (food chemistry). Finland is responsible for the plant breeding sector. - The project was started in 1979.Researchers: Peter Tigerstedt, Sanna Kauppinen See also:
Breeding winter-hardy roses for FinlandAt the University of Helsinki work on breeding roses began in 1992, when the first crosses were made. The first round of crosses have aimed to extend the range of very hardy, ornamental roses suited to open air cultivation in Finland, and also to widen the germplasm base for further rose breeding. The progenies were planted over seven sites, those with the hardiest background at sites near Uleåborg and Sotkamo, 65 degrees N. The oldest plantings of progenies have been observed for four years, and over 100 preliminary selections have been made. During the next two seasons this group will be narrowed down to about 20-25 of the most promising clones. These are to be tested in replicated trials over a range of environments. In the first generation of seedlings from the Helsinki crosses, the possibilities of obtaining roses with a recurrent flowering habit were necessarily limited, since this character is recessively inherited. In the second generation presently being raised we can expect a substantial proportion of long-flowering roses from crosses involving suitably chosen first generation material. Other especially desirable ornamental characters are pure white, yellow and deep red flower colours, fragrance and a low, dense growth habit. Brightly flowered, hardy climbing roses are also in demand.Researchers: Peter Joy, Matti Kangaspunta see also:
Breeding of rhododendron and azaleaThis is a long-term project in plant breeding that started in 1973 for rhododendron and 1988 for azalea. The basis for all hybridization involved is to deploy winter-hardy maternal genotypes in large-scale hybrid production with genetically widely divergent paternal genotypes. After 5-10 years of field testing of hybrids in "hybrid orchards" selection of superior individuals takes place. Selected plants are then micropropagated to clones and tested in 2-5 environments for additional 5-10 years. This testing of clones forms the basis for the release of new cultivars. The program has so far resulted in 8 new cultivars lauched on the European and North American markets. As a spin-off of the model breeding program, several pilot research studies take place, including:1) the effects of growing season a temperature and photoperiod on growth and cold hardiness, 2) polyploidization 3) the effect of polyploidization on growth, form and hardiness.
Researchers: Anu Väinölä, Peter Tigerstedt at HU, See also:
Anu Väinölä, yhteystiedot, contact information
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