Two methods of haploidization in pear, Pyrus communis L.: greenhouse seedling selection and in situ parthenogenesis induced by irradiated pollen

Abstract

Seedlings of 12 crosses involving pear varieties or hybrids were observed for the presence of haploid plants. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, 17 plants corresponded to the haploid condition and, of these, 12 were determined by chromosome counting to be haploid (2n=x=17). In addition, and in order to induce in situ parthenogenesis, several pear varieties were pollinated with a selected clone carrying a homozygous dominant marker gene for the colour of red. This pollen had previously been irradiated with γ-rays of cobalt 60 at 0, 200, 250 and 500 Grays. The immature embryos were cultured in vitro, whereby 1 haploid and two mixoploid plants were obtained. Numerous diploid plants with the maternal phenotype were also obtained, and their genetic origin was subsequently studied by means of isozyme analysis.