Morphological structure of variety populations of Clarkia unguiculata Lindl. in the south of Western Siberia

Abstract

Clarkia unguiculata Lindl. - ornamental-flowering, annual, Californian crop - promising for landscaping in the south of Western Siberia. Decorativeness is determined by its morphobiological traits and adaptive properties. The aim of the work was to evaluate stratification variability of morphological structure of C. unguiculata Lindl. shoots in cultivated populations to improve the methodology of its breeding and seed production in the south of Western Siberia. Cultivated varieties Clarkia different producers were evaluated: C. unguiculata ‘Coral Reefs’ (Novosibirsk State Agricultural University), C. unguiculata ‘Albina’ and ‘Purpurnaya’ (LLC “Group of Companies “Gavrish”); C. unguiculata ‘Rubinovaya’ (Agrofirm Seeds of Altai LLC); C. unguiculata ‘Sakura’ (JSC “APK “ Russky Ogorod”). The study of biometric parameters and stratification variability of shoots was carried out on 10-20 test samples. In C. unguiculata plants 3 stratification of shoots were clearly distinguished: upper (main stem and the first two shoots of the second order), middle and lower (including seed shoots). A high correlation between peduncle productivity and linear brush size was found (r = 0.93). The total number of pedicels ranged from 32-50 per generative individual (CV = 20 %). The number of pedicels of the fourth (CV = 91,6 %) and fifth (CV = 64,2 %) orders was the most variable. The basiton type of branching was observed in the Cultivated varieties: C. unguiculata ‘Coral Reefs’, C. unguiculata ‘Sakura’ and C. unguiculata ‘Ruby’, while the acroton type was observed in the Cultivated varieties C. unguiculata ‘Albina’ and C. unguiculata ‘Purpurea’. Clustering of cultivated populations by the degree of development and productivity of flower stalks of different orders, by measuring Euclidean distances revealed 2 main clusters: the first included, characterized by high floral productivity original, variety Coral Reefs, registered 25.11.2022 in the State Variety Commission of the Russian Federation, and the second all the remaining cultivated populations: C. unguiculata ‘Rubinovaya’ with a minimum degree of flower productivity, C. unguiculata ‘Albina’ and C. unguiculata ‘Purpurnaya’ with average and C. unguiculata ‘Sakura’ above average. As a result, it was possible to identify important quantitative traits: the total number of peduncles per individual, linear size of the brush and the number of flowers on the peduncle. All cultivated populations are sources of a complex of breeding significant quantitative, morphobiological traits. The cultivated population of Clarkia unguiculata ‘Coral Reefs’ is recommended for landscaping the south of Western Siberia and other regions of Russia.