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Development of suitable methods for somatic cell hybridisation of Pelargonium as prerequisite for opening up of new genetic resources
Project
Project code: BAZ-IGK-02-1169
Contract period: 01.01.2004
- 30.06.2007
Purpose of research: Applied research
With 200 millions of propagated plants per year alone in Germany, Pelargonium is one of the most important ornamental plant with amount turnover. There are comprehensive activities in the plant breeding concerning the resistances of different pathogens and enlargement of the utilizable gene pool. Existing forms and varieties trace back to only 5 or 6 wild Pelargonium strains and their progenies. Regarding the limited genotypes there is a growing demand for enlargement of the genetic basis. In many cases resistance genes are only available in species which are sexually incompatible with Pelargonium x zonale.
The goal of this project is the overcoming of the sexual incompatibility barriers by development of an alternative somatic hybridisation system via protoplast fusion and the transfer of resistance against bacterial and fungal pathogens.
A prerequisite for the successful introduction of resistance characters via cell fusion are good regeneration systems for protoplasts. For this it is necessary to develop methods for efficient regeneration of plants from protoplasts after fusions between different species of Pelargonium.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Horticulture
- Biotechnology
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Breeding Research on Horticultural Crops (JKI-ZG)