Volume 30 Number 1 Article 32 Pages: 29-29
Year 1976 Month 1
Title: The Breeding Behaviour of Four Diploid Vaccinium Species
Author: J.R. Ballington
Citation
Abstract:
The 4 blueberry species, Vaccinium
atrococcum (Gray) Heller, V. caesariense
Mackenzie, V. durrowi Camp,
and V. tenellum Ait., have been proposed
to be the diploid ancestors of
the rabbiteye blueberry, Vaccinium
ashei Reade.
The comparative self-,
intra-, and interspecific compatibility
levels among these 4 diploid species
were determined.
Fertility levels within
each species were extremely variable.
Self compatibility in these species
was extremely low, indicating that
the general self-incompatibility of V.
ashei could have come from its proposed
diploid progenitors.
Self-, intra-,
and interspecific compatibility levels
were not significantly different among
species.
Maternal effects were evident
in some interspecific combinations.
However, crossability data indicated
varying potential for genetic exchange
among the 4 species. Vaccinium atrococcum
and V. caesariense were the
only 2 species which intercrossed freely
in either direction.
At the other
extreme, V. atrococcum and V. tenellum
appeared to be reasonably well
isolated genetically.
Therefore the hypothesis
of complete homoploid interfertility
which has been proposed for
Vaccinium was not valid for these 4
species.
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