The influence of the genotype upon the in vitro and in vivo growth of greenhouse carnations
¹University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Horticulture, 3-5Manastur St., 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, e-mail: rsestras@usamvcluj.ro
²Horticultural Research Station, 3-5 Horticultorilor St., Cluj-Napoca, Romania
³School of Life Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200436, China
Abstract:
Carnations are familiar, widespread, and are among the most popular cut flowers. There is great diversity of greenhouse cultivars belonging to Dianthus caryophyllus L, habitually multiplied through cuttings or micro-propagation. In order to establish whether or not there is a connection between the vigour of the plants technically mature from the greenhouse and their in vitro growth, several traits of greenhouse carnation, grown both in vivo and in vitro were analysed in five cultivars (Polka, Tanga, Dark Tempo, Delphi and Indios). The influence of the genotype upon the vigour of the plants and upon the characteristics of the greenhouse flowers, as well as upon some features of the in vitro growth of the plantlets, was significant. The variability under in vivo conditions ranged from 5.0 to 17.8%, while the characteristics analysed in vitro showed a large span of variability values (s% = 7.9–51.0). Overall, the heritability showed high values for the analysed characteristics, both under in vivo (H2 = 0.660–0.949) and in vitro (H2 = 0.502–0.946) conditions. No statistically ensured correlations were recorded between the plant growth under in vivo conditions and of those with the same genotype under in vitro conditions; therefore the greater vigour of some genotypes from the greenhouse did not imply their more accentuated growth in vitro. The cultivars conspicuous for their superior characteristics will be used as genitors within the improvement programmes and also recommended to be tested for inclusion in the Official Catalogue of Plants.
Key words:
carnation, cultivars, growth, heritability, in vitro, in vivo, variability