The ultimate goal of the· breeding scheme, of which the present study is a part, is to introduce exotic germplasm into existing cultivars of Solanum tuberosum through· 4x X 2x crosses using the South American diploid potato species Solanum phureja as the pollen parent. The first phase of this program includes the 'reconstruction' of a highly heterozygous diploid, pollen parent by .first : reducing the chromosome number of the S. phureja clones to the monoploid level and subsequently fusing genomes of two unrelated monoploid plants either by somatic hybridization or by cross-pollination between fertile doubled monoploids. Within this framework, the objectives of this research were to analyze variation among anther-derived plants of Solanum phureja regarding their: 1) ploidy level and morphology, 2) net photosynthesis and its biochemical components, and 3) nuclear genomic structure, particularly with regard ·to the amplification of rRNA genes as influenced by the anther-culture process. Based on the analysis of several morphological characters of the anther-derived plants by canonical discriminant function, four characters (anther length, number of chloroplasts/pair of guard cells, leaf width, corolla width) were selected for most effective assignment of plants to their ploidy groups by clustering procedures. Clustering of the anther-derived plants proved to be an efficient means of separating monoploids from higher ploidy levels. To assess the impact of the process of anther-culture on the physiology of the resulting plants and to evaluate the possibility of selecting anther-derived genotypes for further breeding efforts, monoploid, diploid and tetraploid anther-derived plants were studied regarding their net photosynthesis and its component characteristics. Leaf area, net photosynthesis and chlorophyll content increased with increasing ploidy' Among .the. monoploids I. Rubisco activity and concentration displayed a. significant genotypic effect; whereas in the diploid group variation among genotypes was significant for total protein content and maximum specific activity of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase. Among the tetraploid genotypes, significant differenc.es were found with respect to net photosynthesis and specific leaf weight. Two exceptional genotypes were identified: a monoploid with an increase of 28% fcfr maximum activity of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase and a tetraploid with an increase of 30% for net photosynthesis over the anther-donor plant. To evaluate DNA variation among the anther-derived plants, the nuclear genomes of anther-derived monoploid and diploid plant were studied by DNA reassociation kinetics. It was found that the nuclear genome of the monoploid has undergone differential replication resulting in an increase of sequences consisting of highly· repetitive DNA. Free solution RNA-DNA hybridization showed that the monoploid DNA contained 30% more rDNA sequences than the diploid. Southern blot analysis using rRNA as the probe revealed variation for copy number of certain restriction fragments and for restriction enzyme cleavage sites. / Ph. D.

No description available.

In N. Uruguay two potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crops are grown per year, one in the fall and the other in spring. In each season physiologically young seed tubers are planted, resulting in relatively slow crop emergence and low yields. The aim of the current research was to determine the effects of physiological ageing of seed tubers on the dynamics of canopy growth, radiation interception and radiation use efficiency (RUE) of crops in the short seasons of Uruguay and to identify opportunities for increasing yield. Experiments were conducted on cv Chieftain over three years from 2000 to 2002. Prior to planting seed was stored at different controlled temperatures to generate physiological ages (measured in thermal time) ranging from 0 (the youngest) to 1200 oC days (the oldest). Ageing led to earlier crop emergence (3-9 days depending on the year), but its potential benefits on radiation interception, dry matter production and yield were negated by an earlier canopy senescence and often smaller canopy size. There was no consistent effect of ageing on RUE although the harvest index was increased. Leaf tagging showed that leaf appearance and senescence was advanced by ageing and the lifespan of individual leaves was reduced. Leaf lifespan did not appear to be related to the sink demand by tubers for assimilate, because removal of tubers at the start of bulking had no effect on lifespan. Maintaining canopy structure during senescence led to a small increase in yield. Although physiological ageing did not result in a consistent increase in yield in either season, use of older seed may provide an insurance against the risk of adverse weather conditions late in the season terminating tuber bulking prematurely.

No description available.

Potato is a major part of the human diet in many countries of the world, providing substantial levels of carbohydrate, protein, and vitamins. This study examined the tuber protein content. In the first part of the research, total soluble protein (TSP) and patatin concentration were determined in periderm, cortex, and pith, in tubers of 20 important potato cultivars. TSP concentration was greater in periderm and lesser in cortex and pith tissues. Patatin was present in all tuber tissues but with the opposite pattern, less in periderm and greater in cortex and pith tissues. For intercultivar comparisons, a means of converting the specific tissue-based TSP and patatin data (dry weight) into a uniform weight whole tuber basis was developed. This relied on conversion factor values that were generated from percent weight tissue proportion and percent dry matter for each tissue layer. Cultivars with relatively more or less TSP and patatin in each tissue layer, and on a whole tuber basis, were identified. In the second part of the study, disassembly of chimeral (Russet Burbank) and putatively chimeral (Alpha, Bintje, Red Gold) tubers into their component genotypes was evaluated as a strategy for the production of intraclones with altered protein content. Explants were selected from tissue with greater or lesser protein levels and somatic embryogenesis was used to produce regenerants from each tissue source. Russeting was used as a phenotypic marker and TSP as a biochemical marker. Russet Burbank was confirmed as a periclinal chimera, although chimeral instability was evident, since some non-chimeral regenerants showed displacement of LI tunic cells with the russeting mutation into the pith. Red Gold was "uncovered" as an LII periclinal chimera (Red-Gold-Red). The value of chimeral disassembly in explaining an important component of somatic variation was clearly seen with this cultivar. The inconsistent TSP distribution in Russet Burbank intraclones proved that TSP was not distributed in a periclinal chimeral manner, as initially hypothesized. However, there was clear variation in protein content in the tubers of non-chimeral regenerants. Periclinal chimeral disassembly and somatic embryogenesis are potentially useful technologies for the production of improved intraclones of potato.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1971. / Title from title page screen, viewed Sept. 22, 2004. Dissertation Committee: Robert Chasson (chair), David Pittman, Herman Brockman, Mathew Nadakavukaren, Derek McCracken. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-147) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Agric.))(Agronomy)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographic references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

No description available.