International Cultivars Research Articles

Comparison of Volatile Organic Compounds, Quality, and Nutritional Parameters from Local Italian and International Apple Cultivars

Apple cultivars ‘Annurca’ and ‘Limoncella’ are grown locally in the Campania region of Italy and are valued for their distinctive flavour and characteristics, including a high content of nutritionally important bioactive compounds. However, apples are typically stored chilled for several months before consumption, so it is important to assess if the valuable characteristics are still present after postharvest storage. Here, we compare the quality, nutritional parameters, and aroma of these two cultivars with two widely grown international cultivars, ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Fuji’, after 60 days of storage. The aroma profiles of all four apples were analysed using thermal desorption and gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We show that the local cultivars are distinct from the international cultivars in their bioactive compound content and their antioxidant activity. ‘Limoncella’ shows high sugar content, which may be acting as a cryoprotectant during storage, and high total phenolics in the flesh, which is of nutritional interest. We identified 104 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and showed that the overall aroma profile is distinct for each cultivar, containing 11 published odorant compounds. The ‘Annurca’ profile is uniquely low in esters. Seven VOCs retain good discrimination across the four cultivars and, together with the quality and nutritional data, separate the two local cultivars from the international cultivars by hierarchical clustering. Overall, the data emphasize the unique characteristics of the two local cultivars and their value.

Genomic approaches for almond traceability from nursery and along the food chain

Almond is widely cultivated in the world thanks to the quality and healthy features of the kernel. Almond kernel is consumed fresh or employed in the food industry. Hundreds of almond cultivars were selected throughout the long history of cultivation; in this context, an efficient method for varietal identification is essential to ensure cultivar traceability along the chain. This study surveyed the widely employed commercial kits and protocols for DNA extraction from several almond matrices including leaves, kernels (fresh and roasted) and several processed products. Commercial kits (though with minor modification) outperformed the other extraction methods for the isolation of DNA suitable for molecular analysis from all the tested matrices. In parallel, a germplasm collection composed of 140 accessions (123 Sicilian genotypes complemented with widely known national and international cultivars) was genotyped with the Axiom™ 60K almond SNP Array enabling the detection of 6 374 unique SNPs that can be readily used for varietal traceability. A subset of unique SNPs was further validated employing a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay on a discovery panel encompassing ten of the most widely cultivated accessions. The DNA extracted from leaves and kernels of five cultivars was genotyped with eight SSRs allowing the identification of the maternal origin of each kernel. The paper integrates the survey of the widely employed protocols for DNA extraction with the high-throughput genotyping of 140 almond accessions. In this context, unique SNPs validated and optimized for an HRM assay and the availability of SSR markers demonstrated their efficacy in traceability analysis along the chain.

Evolution of Leaf Chlorophylls, Carotenoids and Phenolic Compounds during Vegetation of Some Croatian Indigenous Red and White Grape Cultivars.

During the ripening process of grapes, the grapevine leaves are the most active green organs that are important for photosynthesis, which is closely linked to the development and metabolism of the plant. The detection of plant pigments and phenolic compounds in grapevine leaves can be a good indicator of the ageing process, vine vigor and the plant's ability to respond to fungal attack. In a one-year study, the development of leaf chlorophylls, carotenoids and phenolic compounds during the ripening of six indigenous Croatian grape cultivars and the international cultivars Merlot and Chardonnay was investigated. The chlorophyll a/b ratio and total chlorophyll and total carotenoid concentrations were also investigated. PCA was used to highlight relevant information from the data with the aim of distinguishing individual compounds based on the cultivar and phenological stage. The leaf total hydroxycinnamic acid and flavan-3-ol concentrations decreased slowly during grape development, with the highest concentration immediately after flowering and the lowest during grape ripening. The concentrations of β-carotene, lutein and xanthophylls tended to decrease during bunch closure or veraison, while the concentration of chlorophylls a and b peaked during veraison and then decreased during grape ripening. This research will provide an opportunity to select cultivars with the physiological adaptation to synthesize secondary metabolites that are important for managing stress conditions.

Screening the Citrus Greek National Germplasm Collection for fruit quality and metabolic footprint

Citrus fruits are one of the most important fruits in the global food industry due to their unique taste and nutritional benefits. Herein, we characterize the physicochemical and bioactive attributes of twenty-nine Greek citrus accessions, including oranges, mandarins/clementines, lemons, bergamot, citrons and lime along with twenty-seven highly commercial international cultivars. The assessed genotypes differ in various quality traits including color, ripening, and textural attributes. Several indigenous cultivars displayed desirable organoleptic traits, such as the oranges ‘Valencia Oval Porou’ (e.g., juice content and ascorbic acid) and ‘Sanguine Gouritis’ (eg., soluble solids (SSC) and acidity (TA) ratio), the mandarin ‘Clementine Porou’ (e.g., SSC/TA) and the lemon ‘Vakalou’ (e.g., firmness, acidity). Differences in primary metabolites, mainly in sugars, organic acids and amino acids were recorded among the tested species and cultivars. In addition, the autochthonous orange cultivars ‘Sanguine Gouritsis’ and ‘Valencia Oval Porou’ contained high sucrose levels whereas ‘Lainato Chanion’ had high hesperidin content. This large-scale analysis supports the ample availability of genetic resources for the development of citrus cultivars with improved nutritional quality traits.

Survey on Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen Status of Musts from Native and International Grape Varieties: Effect of Variety and Climate

Yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN), besides the oenological parameters (sugar content, titratable acidity, and pH) in grape musts of sixteen native and international varieties of Vitis vinifera cultivated in six regions of Northern Greece, was assessed in the frame of the present study. Low levels of YAN are frequently thought to be the cause of problematic fermentations and originate significant changes in the organoleptic aspects of the finished product. The objective of this multi-variety study was to assess factors affecting the YAN amount and composition in technologically mature grapes and, therefore, to evaluate the necessity of YAN supplementation with ammonium salts in musts across different native and international grape varieties. Free amino nitrogen was measured colorimetrically, ammoniacal nitrogen was measured enzymatically, and their values for each must sample were summed to obtain the total amount of YAN. Statistical analysis was carried out including principal component analysis (PCA) to discover relationships among must samples and the parameters studied. PCA analysis classified samples depending on grape varieties and region of origin, bringing knowledge about native and international cultivars of great commercial interest. Moreover, these findings could help to understand how commercial varieties can behave in different climates in the climate change context.

STUDY OF GENETIC DIVERSITY IN PLUM GENOTYPES USING SRAP MARKERS

The hexaploid European plums (Prunus domestica L. and Prunus domestica subsp. insititia (L.) C.K.Schneid.) are main traditional fruit tree culture in Romania and represent an economically important fruit species with limited information on its genetic structure. Our objective was to fingerprint 33 cultivars using four Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP) primer pairs to estimate the genetic relationships among local and international cultivars. The primer pairs amplified a total of 70 alleles ranging from 14 to 21 alleles per marker. A wide range of fragment length was detected among the accessions, from 65 to 2000 bp. The mean number of alleles per primer combination was 17.5, with the most alleles obtained with SRAP80 (21 alleles), range between 65-1800 bp and the fewest alleles (14) were obtained with SRAP95, range between 150-2000 bp. The neighbor-joining dendrogram, based on Rogers genetic distance, of the plum germplasm studied, consisted of two main clusters of different sizes: 23 entries were grouped into cluster 1 and the remaining 10 entries were grouped into cluster 2. It is interesting that cultivars representing plum species with 6x and 2x ploidy levels were clustered together. Another interesting aspect observed refers to plum genotypes clustered closely on the dendrogram according to their pedigree, such as 'Dani' (P14) - 'Tita' (P15), 'Roman' (P7) - 'Early Rivers' (P9), 'Zamfira' (P6) - 'Pescăruș' (P33). Accessions within the Romanian landrace/old autochthonous cultivars group were not clustered together. Regarding the PCA, the first two principal axes accounted for 12.91% (CP1) and 10.46% (CP2) of the total variation, respectively, together explaining 23.37% of the total variability. Our results showed that SRAP markers represent valuable tools for genetic diversity study on Prunus domestica. To our knowledge, this is the first study using SRAP markers for characterization of P. domestica germplasm. In the future, this molecular genetic information can be combined with phenological and biochemical data to identify genes, quantitative trait loci (QTL) and molecular markers that can be used to improve the plum crop breeding program.

Cultivar-specific markers, mutations, and chimerisim of Cavendish banana somaclonal variants resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4

BackgroundThe selection of tissue culture–derived somaclonal variants of Giant Cavendish banana (Musa spp., Cavendish sub-group AAA) by the Taiwan Banana Research Institute (TBRI) has resulted in several cultivars resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4), a destructive fungus threatening global banana production. However, the mutations in these somaclonal variants have not yet been determined. We performed an RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of three TBRI Foc TR4–resistant cultivars: ‘Tai-Chiao No. 5’ (TC5), ‘Tai-Chiao No. 7’ (TC7), and ‘Formosana’ (FM), as well as their susceptible progenitor ‘Pei-Chiao’ (PC), to investigate the sequence variations among them and develop cultivar-specific markers.ResultsA group of single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) specific to one cultivar were identified from the analysis of RNA-seq data and validated using Sanger sequencing from genomic DNA. Several SNVs were further converted into cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers or derived CAPS markers that could identify the three Foc TR4–resistant cultivars among 6 local and 5 international Cavendish cultivars. Compared with PC, the three resistant cultivars showed a loss or alteration of heterozygosity in some chromosomal regions, which appears to be a consequence of single-copy chromosomal deletions. Notably, TC7 and FM shared a common deletion region on chromosome 5; however, different TC7 tissues displayed varying degrees of allele ratios in this region, suggesting the presence of chimerism in TC7.ConclusionsThis work demonstrates that reliable SNV markers of tissue culture–derived and propagated banana cultivars with a triploid genome can be developed through RNA-seq data analysis. Moreover, the analysis of sequence heterozygosity can uncover chromosomal deletions and chimerism in banana somaclonal variants. The markers obtained from this study will assist with the identification of TBRI Cavendish somaclonal variants for the quality control of tissue culture propagation, and the protection of breeders’ rights.

Evaluation of virulence and race identification of rice-blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae isolated from different districts of Karnataka, India

Rice blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae Cavara (Teleomorph: Magnaporthe oryzae B.C. Couch) is one of the main pathological threats to rice crop around the world. Here, 72 monogenic isolates obtained from blast-infected rice samples from the principal rice growing districts of Karnataka, India were screened for virulence. Further, 16 highly virulent isolates were tested on the 24 international differential cultivars targeting 16 resistance genes. Eight differentials were used to determine the races of these fungal isolates. A total of 15 pathotypes were detected among 16 isolates. Differential variety, namely Raminad str 3 showed the maximum resistance followed by Zenith and NP125 with Pia and Pik resistance genes, respectively. This study has revealed the race types and corresponding resistance genes through the infection studies carried on the differentials will help the breeders to incorporate these resistant genes into the local cultivars through MAB to develop blast-resistant cultivars.

Genetic diversity and population structure of apple germplasm from Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey by SSRs

Turkey has a diverse apple germplasm and Northeastern Anatolia had great contributions to domestication of the Malus genus. Despite quite high rainfall (900–2300 mm) and humidity (70–85%) levels, several local apple cultivars have been successfully grown for centuries at the coastal zone of Eastern Black Sea region of Northeastern Anatolia without any pesticide applications. In this study, a set of 206 local genotypes, including 6 international cultivars as references was analyzed using 13 SSR primers with the aim of assessing the genetic diversity and population structure among the genotypes. Bayesian genetic structure analysis was used to reveal differentiation of the groups and the results were confirmed by factorial correspondence analysis (FCA). A total of 234 alleles (average 18) were generated by 13 SSR markers. CH02c06 was the most informative (PI: 0.017) and CH03g07 was the least informative (PI: 0.07) locus. The average He was 0.859 with a range of 0.775–0.929 and the average Ho was 0.760 with a range of 0.556–0.872. Considerable genetic variation was detected among the genotypes and genetic similarity varied between 11 and 96%. A Bayesian genetic structure analysis indicated three subpopulations (K) and admixture among the accessions. Several loci yielded three alleles in 39 accessions. No synonyms or identical cultivars were detected but several genotypes known by the same names formed 22 homonym groups. The present SSR data will have great contributions to future germplasm management efforts as well as to further comparative studies that investigate genetic relationships among the local apples of Northeastern Anatolia.

Analysis of aroma compounds of nine autochthonous and non-autochthonous loquat cultivars grown in Sicily

Loquat cultivation in Sicily is mainly based on nonnative cultivars and local ecotypes characterized by high nutraceutical value and appreciable physicochemical characteristics. Increased interest in commercial loquat production has increased the intention to provide premium quality loquat cultivars that include volatile substances capable of conditioning the sensorial properties and, therefore, the acceptability of fruits by consumers. This study determined the content of volatile compounds in nonnative and local loquat fruits grown in Sicily. Analyses were performed on five international cultivars and four local cultivars.

Genetic characterization of an almond germplasm collection and volatilome profiling of raw and roasted kernels

Almond is appreciated for its nutraceutical value and for the aromatic profile of the kernels. In this work, an almond collection composed of 96 Sicilian accessions complemented with 10 widely cultivated cultivars was phenotyped for the production of volatile organic compounds using a proton-transfer time-of-flight mass spectrometer and genotyped using the Illumina Infinium®18 K Peach SNP array. The profiling of the aroma was carried out on fresh and roasted kernels enabling the detection of 150 mass peaks. Sixty eight, for the most related with sulfur compounds, furan containing compounds, and aldehydes formed by Strecker degradation, significantly increased during roasting, while the concentration of fifty-four mass peaks, for the most belonging to alcohols and terpenes, significantly decreased. Four hundred and seventy-one robust SNPs were selected and employed for population genetic studies. Structure analysis detected three subpopulations with the Sicilian accessions characterized by a different genetic stratification compared to those collected in Apulia (South Italy) and the International cultivars. The linkage-disequilibrium (LD) decay across the genome was equal to r2 = 0.083. Furthermore, a high level of collinearity (r2 = 0.96) between almond and peach was registered confirming the high synteny between the two genomes. A preliminary application of a genome-wide association analysis allowed the detection of significant marker-trait associations for 31 fresh and 33 roasted almond mass peaks respectively. An accurate genetic and phenotypic characterization of novel germplasm can represent a valuable tool for the set-up of marker-assisted selection of novel cultivars with an enhanced aromatic profile.

The Use of an Alternative Differential Set for Determination of Pyrenophora teres f. maculata Pathotypes

Pyrenophora teres f. maculata incites spot form of barley net blotch disease. For determination of Pyrenophora teres f. maculata pathotypes, a differential set consisted of 22 international cultivars and genotypes and a susceptible Turkish barley variety Bülbül 89 were tested using 45 isolates obtained from different regions of Turkey. Nineteen pathotypes were determined out of 45 isolates used. It appears that this differential set could be useful for determination of P. teres f. maculata pathotypes.

Identification of genetic diversity among Juglans regia L. genotypes using molecular, morphological, and fatty acid data

In this study, 40 walnut (Juglans regia L.) samples including international cultivars, national cultivars and local genotypes were analyzed in terms of detailed morphological traits, molecular characteristics, and biochemical (fatty acids) features. The results showed high morphological diversity among the genotypes, and the kernel ratio was found to have major contribution for the principal component analysis (PCA). Molecular results showed that the 19 SRAP primer combinations produced, on average, 171 bands in the accessions examined, of which 156 (90.6%) were polymorphic and DICE’s similarity coefficient ranged from 0.49 to 0.94 indicating high genetic diversity. The polymorphism ratio of 11 primers was 100% while the lowest polymorphism was 66.7%. There were no significant differences in terms of correlation coefficient between the similarity matrices of the morphological traits and SRAP (r = 0.03). The main fatty acids of walnut kernel oils were found to be linoleic acid (C18:2) followed by oleic acid (C18:1) and linolenic acid (C18:3). The polyunsaturated fatty acids constitute the main group of fatty acids in walnut kernel oils, and these ratios varied between 85.99–92.19%. It has been determined that the morphological and biochemical data may be insufficient alone in identification of genetic diversity and relativeness in walnut because they should be supported by molecular data.

Deciphering S-RNase Allele Patterns in Cultivated and Wild Accessions of Italian Pear Germplasm

The genus Pyrus is characterized by an S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system, a mechanism that promotes outbreeding and prevents self-fertilization. While the S-genotype of the most widely known pear cultivars was already described, little is known on the S-allele variability within local accessions. The study was conducted on 86 accessions encompassing most of the local Sicilian varieties selected for their traits of agronomic interest and complemented with some accessions of related wild species (P. pyrifolia Nakai, P. amygdaliformis Vill.) and some national and international cultivars used as references. The employment of consensus and specific primers enabled the detection of 24 S-alleles combined in 48 S-genotypes. Results shed light on the distribution of the S-alleles among accessions, with wild species and international cultivars characterized by a high diversity and local accessions showing a more heterogeneous distribution of the S-alleles, likely reflecting a more complex history of hybridization. The S-allele distribution was largely in agreement with the genetic structure of the studied collection. In particular, the “wild” genetic background was often characterized by the same S-alleles detected in P. pyrifolia and P. amygdaliformis. The analysis of the S-allele distribution provided novel insight into the contribution of the wild and international cultivars to the genetic background of the local Sicilian or national accessions. Furthermore, these results provide information that can be readily employed by breeders for the set-up of novel mating schemes.

Phosphate fertiliser alters carboxylates and bacterial communities in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) rhizosheaths

This study aimed to determine the structure of the bacterial community inhabiting the roots and rhizosheath of sweet potato cultivars, and how these bacterial communities respond to P addition and subsequent changes in carboxylate exudation by sweet potato roots. Five sweet potato cultivars were grown with and without P addition in a low P soil in a glasshouse: Beauregard and Northern Star (both international cultivars) and Whagi Besta, Maraso and Marasunda which originate from Papua New Guinea. Rhizosheath carboxylates were measured and the root/rhizosheath bacterial community analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Carboxylate amount per g root weight was reduced (citrate) or increased (malate and oxalate) with addition of P. Carboxylate amount also positively correlated (citrate, oxalate and shikimate) or negatively correlated (malate) to bacterial alpha diversity when no P was added. P addition decreased bacterial diversity, altered the structure of the bacterial community (taxa and predicted function) and led to an enrichment of bacteria related to known P-solubilising bacteria (Burkholderia and Massilia) as well as to functions related to biosynthesis. This study provides a first indication of types and putative roles of root/rhizosheath bacteria in sweet potato cultivars originating from a wide range of environments including marginal and P-impoverished soils and high-P agricultural systems.

Marginal Grapevine Germplasm from Apulia (Southern Italy) Represents an Unexplored Source of Genetic Diversity

The investigation on the genetic diversity of grapevine germplasm is crucial for a more efficient use of grapevine genetic resources in light of changing environmental conditions. Here, we used simple sequence repeats (SSRs) coupled with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers to disclose grapevine genetic diversity of a collection of Apulian minor/neglected genotypes. Their relationships with national or international cultivars were also examined. Genetic diversity was investigated using 10 SSR markers and 1,178 SNPs generated by genotyping by sequencing (GBS). Based on the SSR data, the 128 genotypes were classified into six main genetic clusters. Twenty-four putative cases of synonymy and 2 of misnamings were detected. Ten “unknown” autochthonous genotypes did not show high similarity to Apulian, national, or international varieties. We took advantage of available GBS-derived SNP data points for only forty genotypes to better investigate the genetic distance among them, identify private SNP alleles, and divergent loci putatively under selection. Based on SNP alleles, two interesting gene pools of minor/neglected Apulian samples were identified. Genetic divergence was investigated by FST and allowed the detection of loci capable of differentiating the gene pools. Overall, this work emphasizes the need for recovering the untapped genetic variability that characterizes minor/neglected grapevine Apulian genotypes and the requirement to preserve and use more efficiently grapevine genetic resources in breeding programs.

Identification of temperature sensitive resistance to Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in wheat differential hosts and its potential applications in resistance breeding

Temperature affects wheat resistance responses infected by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). In order to identify if thirty-one entries of Chinese, international and other tester wheat cultivars possess temperature sensitive resistance, the entries were studied in seedling stage at two different day/night temperature regimes (24/18°C and 14/10°C). Four entries, Lutescens 128, Funo, Lee and Carstens V, were confirmed no temperature sensitive resistance genes. Six wheat cultivars, Early Piemium, Fengchan 3, Fulhard, Heines VII, Mentana and Virgilio, have shown temperature sensitive resistance. Comparison with four standard lines (S110, S111, S112, S113) with 0-3 temperature sensitive genes, derived from crosses of Itana/PI 178383, the resistance to Pst race 10E162 in Virgilio controlled by two temperature sensitive genes, and Mentana and Fulhard each possessed one temperature sensitive gene. Virgilio, Fulhard and Mentana as the temperature sensitive gene resources are useful in breeding for resistance to stripe rust. As the differential hosts of wheat stripe rust, it is necessary to strictly control the temperature without exceeding 18°C, since infection type may differ due to the different temperature. Keywords: Differential hosts; Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici; Temperature sensitive resistance; Wheat

Quality evaluation of extra-virgin olive oils from Sicilian genotypes grown in a high-density system

Studying the sensory profile and chemical composition of monovarietal extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs) is important to define and manage their quality and uniqueness. Chemical and sensory traits of olive oils from 14 minor Sicilian olive genotypes in comparison with oils from six major Sicilian and three international cultivars were analysed. Oils were extracted in 2015 from fruit of the 23 genotypes grown in an experimental orchard at a planting density of 1140 trees ha−1. Fatty acid composition, phenol composition, carotenoid content and antioxidant power were determined and analysed using univariate and multivariate procedures, in particular Nocellara Etnea along with carotenoid, phenol content and good sensory attributes, producing the best quality EVOO among the genotypes in trial. These results show that some Sicilian accessions used in this study may represent valid alternatives to produce high-quality EVOOs in modern, hedgerow planting systems.

Valorization of autochthonous Apulian grapevine cultivars for spumante production

Italian spumante has a long tradition, deeply rooted in the Piedmont region since the 19th century. A fundamental aspect of spumante production is berry acidity, since it influences both the quality and taste of spumante. The acidity of the berry results from the accumulation of H+ ions in the vacuole of the cell, and this process involves complex biochemical changes not yet completely understood. Furthermore, acidification is strongly influenced by environment; in particular, higher temperature is associated with lower berry acidity. As part of a project aimed at evaluating and promoting Apulian cultivars for spumante production, six autochthonous grapevine cultivars (‘Bianco d’Alessano’, ‘Bombino Nero’, ‘Maresco’, ‘Minutolo’, ‘Negramaro’ and ‘Uva di Troia’) and two international cultivars (‘Pinot Blanc’ and ‘Pinot Noir’) were characterized both genetically, to constitute molecular fingerprints, and biochemically, to detect berry acidity values. The results obtained allowed us to identify the autochthonous cultivar ‘Maresco’ as the best candidate for comparison with the most commonly used cultivar for spumante production at the international scale, ‘Pinot Blanc’.

Selection of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) full-sib families from diverse landraces

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is one of the most important culinary and aromatic plants in Iran. Surprisingly, no commercial cultivar is available across the country and farmers are cultivating landraces. The main purpose of the present study was to describe the diversity among and within landraces of sweet basil as well as developing new genotypes for cultivar development. Twenty two genotypes of basil including Iranian landraces and international cultivars were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2017. Three Iranian landraces, ‘Isfahan3’, ‘Birjand’ and ‘Malayer’ were recognized as superior landraces. Dry herb for them was recorded as 3309, 3191 and 3175 kg ha−1, respectively. Also, the content of essential oil in ‘Isfahan3’, ‘Birjand’ and ‘Malayer’ was obtained as 1.43, 1.85, and 1.79% (w/w on dry weight basis), respectively. Due to existence of high diversity among landraces, broad-sense heritability estimates were over 98% for all of the evaluated traits. Among these landraces, 14 full-sib families were produced via controlled pollination. In another experiment the full-sib families were compared. For all measured traits, there were highly significant differences among full-sib families. The best family in each landrace was selected for cultivar development in future breeding programs.