Fruit Research Station Cluj Research Articles

Improved In Vitro Propagation of Paulownia elongata, P. fortunei and its Interspecific Hybrid P. elongata x P. fortunei

Our paper presents an effective micropropagation protocol for Paulownia sp. (P. elongata, P. fortuneiand a P. elongata x P. fortunei hybrid). For in vitro culture initiation, axillary buds as well as seeds wereused. For the multiplication stage, modified Murashige & Skoog (MS) was tested, supplemented with0.5 mg/l BAP (6-benzilaminopurine) and mT (meta-topoline) at the concentrations of 0.5, 0.7 and 1mg/l. The media supplemented with BAP ensured intense proliferation of axillary buds but they alsocaused negative physiological effects (abundant callus growth at the plantlets’ base). In the P. elongata xP. fortunei hybrid as well as in P. elongata 1 mg/l mT ensured the highest proliferation and multiplicationrates, but the plantlets that resulted from the media supplemented with 0.5 and 0.7 mg/l mT were morevigorous and well developed. In P. fortunei 1 mg/l mT ensured average proliferation rates of 9.28 andaverage multiplication rates of 12.92. Wheat starch proved to be a cheap and very effective alternativegelling agent. Ex vitro rooting and acclimatization was very successful by using Jiffy7 pellets and floatingperlite, the latter being a technique elaborated at the Fruit Research Station Cluj, with acclimatizationpercentages of more than 80 % in the 3-5 cm long shoots and more than 60 % in the 2-2.5 cm longshoots. The protocol developed allowed eliminating the in vitro rooting stage in the commonly usedprocesses in the industry.

The Direct Ex Vitro Rooting and Acclimation of Some Horticultural Species in Jiffy7 Pellets

Several researchers have used Jiffy7 pellets for direct ex vitro rooting and acclimation as well as for rooting cuttings. At the Fruit Research Station Cluj experiments were carried out for the direct ex vitro rooting and acclimation of some horticultural species in Jiffy7 pellets in order to avoid the expensive and labour-intensive in vitro rooting phase. Polyproplylene multi-purpose trays covered with transparent lids were used as culture vessels, in order to ensure optimal air humidity. The ex vitro rooting and acclimation phases were of one month and most species had high survival rates.

New varieties of rosa homologated at the Fruit Research Station Cluj between 2009-2011.

‘Violet’ and ‘Aroma’ are two new rosa varieties that were obtained at the Fruit Research Station from Cluj, Romania. They belong to the landscape group of roses. Between the years 2009 and 2011 the field behaviour of the new rosa varieties cultivars was studied, the decorative value was evaluated, as well as their resistance to frost and diseases. In regard to ornamental traits, the most important morphological characteristics were analyzed: the flower color, the habitus, the flowering waves and the way of using the cultivars in various landscape decorations such as: borders, massifs, hedges and small groups, covers.

The evaluation of grafting success rate in some rose cultivars by the application of treatments with Ceraltin

The rose is a very popular plant species, it has an outstanding ornamental value and it has been grown since ancient times (Palocsay and Wagner, 1966). Tree roses are represented by the cultivars that are trained with trunk and stem or they are obtained by grafting some erect or even climbing cultivars, in the latter case weeping roses would result (Mateescu, 2002). The research was carried out in the experimental field of the Floriculture Laboratory in the framework of the Fruit Research Station Cluj. The aim of the research was to contribute to the increase of the success rate in the process of obtaining tree roses, by the use of Ceraltin® for increasing the grafting compatibility and better subsequent plant growth. The research was carried out in the years 2009-2011, as a series of bi-factorial experiments, in which the two factors, the cultivar and treatment with Ceraltin®, each had four, respectively two graduations. The experimental results were processed by the analysis of variance, by the “Duncan” test (Ardelean et al., 2002). Based on the experimental data, we conclude that the highest grafting success rate, in all the rose cultivars we studied, was obtained as a result of using the Ceraltin® for increasing grafting compatibility. The statistical rate of the effect of the treatment with the Ceraltin® is very high (82%) as compared to the effect of soil (16%), whereas the effect of interaction of the two factors is only 2 % of the total effects.

Variability of Some Characters of the Pepper Cultivar Ileana (Capsicum annuum L.)

The new pepper cultivar ‘Ileana’ (Capsicum annuum L.), obtained at Fruit Research Station Cluj, Romania and homologated in 2007 (Jidavu et al., 2007). The new cultivar was the result of one complex hybridization: ♀{[♀Cj 7-82 (♀Cj 5-64) x ♂Alma)] x ♂Compact}F5 x ♂Feher ozon, followed by the repeated individual selection. ‘Ileana’ was cultivated in the open field, in order to initiated conservative selection for the maintain authenticity and the biological purity. The principal characteristics of the plants and fruits were analyzed and coefficients of variability were computed. Variability coefficients of plant characteristics (height, diameter and bush shape) had medium values (CV%: 10.5-14.7). CV% of fruit’s trait varied from 8.6% (diameter) to 24.0% (number of fruits per plant). The uniformity of the plant and fruit characters, could be considering quite homogeneous, even if the productivity characters were registered with a variability denoting influence of the environment. Due their favorable peculiarities including fruits quality, the new pepper cultivar ‘Ileana’ is recommended for culture.

The Study of the Main Anatomo-Morphological and Decorative Characteristics of the Gladiolus hybridus Approved for Fruit Research Station Cluj in 2008

The genetic potential of the species Gladiolus hybridus offers the possibility for the continuous diversification of the assortment of flowers by breeding new cultivars, important from the point of view of their decorative value, as well as economically. In the year 2008, other 2 valuable cultivars, Medina and Coral Passion were added to the list of homologated cultivars belonging to this species (28 cultivars) at the Fruit Research Station of Cluj. Biometrical observations were done concerning the following traits: plant height, floral stem length, the length of the inflorescence, number of flowers/inflorescence and flower size. Other traits taken into study were: the colour of the flowers, the number of flowers open at the same time, resistance to pests and diseases and the vase life of the flower stem. The experimental data were interpreted statistically, by calculating the averages and the significance of the differences was tested by using the DL test. The parental cultivars, Priscilla and Nova Lux were used as controls and comparative studies were done regarding the main characteristics that were taken into study. By analyzing the results obtained in the 3 years of study it is observed that the 2 homologued hybrids are remarkable for: the flowers colours, which is very good for both hybrids, superior values as compared to the parental cultivars have been registered regarding the traits.

Realizations and new trends in breeding of Gladiolus hybridus at Fruit Research Station Cluj.

Gladiolus has been the important commercial cut-flower for summer crop in Romania for over 50 years. The floral commerce needs new varieties to boost yield and quality of flowers because the average wholesale price of flowers was no higher in recent years than it was 20 to 30 years ago. The improved of Gladiolus assortment with new cultivars and hybrids are one of the main objectives of researches of the Fruit research Station, Floral department. The aim of this paper was to present new three cultivars (‘Medina’, ‘Coral Pasion’ and ‘Incandescent’) and three hybrids (H 208/3, H 303/1 and H 447/8) created by artificial crossing, followed by clonal selection. The new varieties were analyzed concerning the main morph-decorative characteristics such as color of flower, vigor of plant, length of stem, number of florets per spike, floral diameter, the behavior of flower in vase life and multiplication capacity.

New Cherry Cultivars Obtained by Mutagenesis at the Fruit Research Station Cluj, Romania

Researches have been carried out at Fruit Research Station Cluj, Romania, in order to obtain some mutations of the “compact” type for sweet cherry trees. The mutagen agent used was the ionizing radiation of a source of Co 60 in classes of 50 Gy for 100 min., applied to 1 year old shoots of Bing and Germersdorf. After 5 years of growing in the orchard there have been selected two mutants: G 784-6-2 and B 836-31-1 (named Napoca and Stefana). Both of them have large fruits, good productivity.

Control of summer fruit tortrix moth, Adoxophyes reticulana, by an experimental "attract and kill" formulation.

The summer fruit tortrix moth, Adoxophyes reticulana Hubner is a major pest of fruit crops, particularly apple and pear, in temperate regions. Pheromonal control of summer fruit tortrix moth, Adoxophyes reticulana, by an experimental “attract and kill” formulation were carried out during year 2008 at the Fruit Research Station Cluj, Romania. The experimental product formulated by the researchers of the Chemical Research Institute Raluca Ripan-Romania, contains the pheromone of the summer fruit tortrix moth (the sex pheromone is a blend 9:1 of (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate) and a synthetic piretroid insecticide (cyfluthrin) in order to be compatible with the attract and kill biotechnique. The experimental product was applied in a rate of 4000 droplets per hectare with a hand operated pump dispenser. Field trial in 2008 of the experimental product was conducted in pear orchard, organized for experimental trials. Field trial in 2008 showed that this environmental friendly strategy can compete with the conventional spray application of insecticides and can provide a good alternative for Adoxophyes reticulana control in integrated pest management and fruit growing.

New rose varieties obtained by Fruit Research Station Cluj, Romania.

At the Fruit Research Station (FRS), Cluj, Romania, in 2006-2008 period, there were studied the field behaviour of some new rose cultivars obtained at FRS (‘Afrodita’, ‘Sandra’ and ‘Veronica’), belonging to the landscape group of roses. The decorative value of these cultivars was studied and evaluated, as well as their resistance to frost and diseases. For ornamental traits, were analyzed both, the most important morphological characteristics (as the colour of the flower, the habitus, the flowering waves etc.) and the way of using the cultivars in various landscaping situations as: borders, massifs, hedges and small groups, covers.

Study on the influence of water treated by means of physical growth and development of pepper plants (Capsicum annuum).

At the Fruit Research Station Cluj we did experiments on the influence of water treated by several physical methods upon the growth and development of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). The water used in our experiments were treated by Ancu-Dinc? effect, magnetized water and vibrated water. Magnetized water has distinct effects on the significant growth and development of pepper plants. Also, water physically modified by the Ancu-Dinc? effect, positively influences plant growth (26% as compared to control), but not significantly. Upon the number and the total number of setter flowers / plants, magnetized water has positive influences, distinctly significant, very significant. By increasing the correlation coefficient between growth of plants and the total number of flowers/plant, in case of watering with magnetized water under stress, it may be inferred that magnetized water determines increasing resistance of pepper plants at conditions of stress.

Pheromonal control of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L., by an experimental attract and kill formulation.

Pheromonal control of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L, by an experimental and formulation were carried out during two years (2006-2007) at the Fruit Research Station Cluj, Ro mania. The experimental product formulated by the researchers of the Chemical Research Institute Raluca Ripa n- Romania, contains the pheromone of the codling moth (E,E-8,10 dodecadien-1-ol) and a synthetic pyrethr oid insecticide (cyfluthrin) in order to be compatible with the attract and kill biotechnique. The experim ental product was applied in a rate of 4000 droplets per hectare with a hand operated pump dispenser. Field trials i n 2006 and 2007 showed that this environmental friendly strate gy can compete with the conventional spray applicat ion of insecticides and can provide a good alternative for codling moth control in integrated pest management and fruit growing.

THE VARIETIES ILEANA AND CIPRIAN, RESULTS OF THE DIVERSIFYING OF RANGE OF PEPPER VARIETIES BY GENETIC IMPROVEMENT

The creation of new pepper varieties by genetic improvement at Fruit Research Station is the main goal for over 50 years. There is a valuable, rich and diverse gene collection. The most recent mild pepper varieties homologated in 2007 are Ileana and Ciprian and they are presented in his poster. Both varieties are the result of a complex hybridization, followed by a repeated individual selection. As genitors, there were used valuable lines created at Fruit Research Station Cluj and valuable foreign or indigenous varieties of bell peppers and long peppers. The genetic formulae for the two varieties are: Ileana: [Cj 7-82 ? * Compact ?] F5 ? * Feher ozon ?. Cj 7-82=(Cj 5-64) ? * Alma ?. Ciprian: [Largo gruesso reus ? * Compact ?]F7 ? * Kapia de Kurtovo ?. The used genitors were very different genetically and phenotipically in the both case of varieties. There are very different from the genitors and also from each other. In conclusion, Ileana and Ciprian mild pepper varieties are very heterozygous and also very valuable for both cultures in the field and protected environment.

PEAR VARIETIES AND SELECTIONS, WITH EXTRA-EARLY AND EARLY RIPENING, OBTAINED AT THE FRUIT RESEARCH STATION CLUJ (FRS CLUJ)

Pear-breeding in the Fruit Research Station Cluj started in 1953 when the Fruit Research Station was founded, carrying the following objectives: productivity, quality and different ripening periods in order to assure fresh fruits for a longer period of time. Due to this activity, the following pear varieties have been certificated: Napoca, Doina, Haydeea, Ina Estival, Virgiliu Hibernal, Jubileu 50 and Milenium. To obtain the first generation of hybrids were used the 400 existent varieties at FRS Cluj. The method used concerning the issue of variety was conducted hybridisation. Taken by the improvement objectives which were proposed, there were chosen as genitors the varieties and selections that were suitable for the aim to follow. At the time being, in the trial fields of FRS Cluj, there are over 140 selections of pear hybrids, obtained by selections. From the large number of tested selections can be noticed a few selections with extra-early and early ripening, with great perspectives for being certificated: 72-17-11, 72-2-16, 72-15-45, 99-7-51, 72-21-13. We recommend studying them in production conditions and promoting the best selections for propagation and for being included in the local and national range of varieties.