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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #176078
Title: VARIATION IN MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHENOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN SELECTED POPULATIONS OF THE USDA LIMNANTHES GERMPLASM COLLECTION

Author
item Jenderek, Maria
item Hannan, Richard

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/4/2003
Publication Date: 10/12/2003
Citation: Jenderek, M.M., Hannan, R.M. 2003. Variation in morphological and phenological characteristics in selected populations of the USDA Limnanthes germplasm collection. AAIC. P. 68.

Interpretive Summary: NA. Abstract only.

Technical Abstract: Limnanthes (Limnanthaceae; meadowfoam) seed is a source of long-chain fatty acids with very high oxidative stability. The seed oil may be used in lubricants, inks, rubber additives and plastics. Germplasm with short vegetation cycles, uniform and high seed yield is needed for cultivar improvement. Seeds of 10 different Limnanthes accessions were sown in nursery flats in a screen house in October 2002. In February 2003, transplants were planted in field in a randomized complete block design, in 4 replications, with 50 plants per replication. The trial was carried out at the National Arid Land Plant Genetic Resource Unit, Parlier, California. The characteristics evaluated were plant survival and vigor, number of plants without flowers, time of flowering of the first and 50% plants, and mass of seeds maturing at different time within each population. The number of viable plants able to grow in the field from transplants varied from 94.3 (PI 283728, L. striata) to 26.8% (PI 283721, L. floccosa ssp. pumila) between the populations evaluated. The largest fraction of vigorous plants (97.6%) was observed for L. gracilis (PI 283722) and the lowest (65.3%) for L. flocossa ssp. bellingeriana (PI 420132). The ability to develop flowers on each plant varied between populations from 100 (L. alba ssp. alba, PI 283703, and L. alba, PI 283728) to 73.2% (L. gracillis, PI 283722). The number of days from sowing to first bloom was 142 (L. gracilis, PI 283722 and L. flocossa, PI 420130) to 163 days (L. alba, PI 374793). The shortest spread of flowering (days from first to 50% bloom) was observed in L. striata, PI 283728 and L. alba, PI 374791 (3 days) and the longest for L. alba, PI 374800 (41 days). The time from sowing to seed maturity of the first plants varied from 182 (L. striata, PI 283728, and L. alba, PI 374791) to 215 days (L. alba, PI 374800). The span between maturity of seeds on first and last plants was from 19 (L. alba, PI 374800) to 39 days (L. gracillis 283722). Seed yield varied for different seed maturity dates within the populations, and between the 10 populations evaluated. The wide range of variation for the characteristics evaluated indicated that the 10 germplasm accessions are a valuable source for development of improved Limnanthes cultivars.