Spontaneous hybrids of Prunus fruticosa Pall. in Hungary

K Hrotkó,Y Feng,J Halász

doi:10.1007/s10722-019-00847-w

Abstract

The European ground cherry (Prunus fruticosa Pall.) as a potential dwarfing rootstock attracted the attention of cherry rootstock researchers in several breeding projects. In order to clarify some doubtful classification of collected and promising specimen of supposed hybrids, we compared morphological characteristics to literature data. Genetic analysis was also undertaken using simple-sequence repeat markers. Our results suggest that the investigated P. fruticosa forma fruticosa specimens are tetraploid and the genetic analysis did not contribute to distinguish the P. fruticosa forma fruticosa and forma aucta. Based on morphological characters, we identified few specimens of spontaneous hybrid P. fruticosa × P. mahaleb (P. × jávorkae). Our genetic analysis supports the hypothesis that the sample shrub is triploid and show genetic relationship with P. mahaleb. This triploid hybrid due to the flower sterility represents a blind alley in its evolution. We identified from each investigated habitat specimens of supposed hybrid derivatives of ground cherry P. fruticosa × P. avium (P. × mohácsyana). This hybrid clearly showed distinct morphological characteristics, easily distinguishable from the P. fruticosa f. fruticosa and f. aucta and the genetic analysis suggests that the accessions are triploid. The flower sterility limits the usage of this hybrid derivative for further cross-breeding but allows usage as clonal cherry rootstock. Our genetic analysis suggests that samples of P. × eminens are tetraploid, fertile hybrid derivative of ground cherry occurring in some habitats of the basic species and show similar morphological characters to the cultivated sour cherry.

Highlights

Our genetic analysis suggests that samples of P. 9 eminens are tetraploid, fertile hybrid derivative of ground cherry occurring in some habitats of the basic species and show similar morphological characters to the cultivated sour cherry
Chloroplast DNA analysis revealed that this hybridization event occurred at least twice to produce sour cherry (Brettin et al 2000). These results suggest that P. fruticosa was the female progenitor of P. cerasus, a hybrid species produced by the union of unreduced P. avium gametes and normal P. fruticosa gametes (Badenes and Parfitt 1995; Tavaud et al 2004)
Based on personal observation under in situ conditions we described the morphological characteristics of those hybrid groups compared to the basic species (P. fruticosa f. fruticosa Borb.) and compared to the description found in literature (Borbas 1900; Karpati 1944; Krussmann 1978)

Summary

Introduction

Prunus fruticosa Pall.) is a short shrub (height 0.3–1.0 m) classified into Section 3, Eucerasus by Rehder (1990). It occurs in flatlands with dry steppe vegetation, or in hilly regions in thickets on dry karst areas often associated with Prunus avium L. and Prunus mahaleb L. The species and derivatives have been considered as rootstock for sweet and sour cherry in several breeding projects The species and derivatives have been considered as rootstock for sweet and sour cherry in several breeding projects (Cummins 1972; Plock 1973; Hein 1979; Gruppe 1985; Hrotkoand Facsar 1996; De Palma et al 1996; Eremin et al 2000; Eremin and Eremin 2002; Hrotko 2004; Rozpara and Grzyb 2004; Hrotkoet al. 2008; Magyar and Hrotko 2008, 2013; Baracet al. 2013, 2017; Maas et al 2014)

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