Abstract
Systems favoring cross-pollination, such as male sterility and female flowering type, are of great importance in the development of new hybrid cultivars and their seed production. The advantages of male sterility are expressed in the production of cheaper and competitive seeds. The presence of this characteristic in watermelon is not common, and in some cases, it is accompanied by negative manifestations. A collection of 150 watermelon genotypes was tested at the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, Bulgaria, over the past nine years to search for a genetic source of male sterility. The results revealed that two mutations were found. The first mutation was in a plant of the Asar variety, which formed completely degenerated structures in the place of male and female flowers that were completely sterile. The other mutation affected male flowers, female flowers, and leaf shape. Male flowers produced a small amount of pollen. Female flowers were formed, but they were sterile and aborted at an early stage. The genotype can be propagated by pollination of the normal plants, which in the next generation segregate into mutant—25% and normal—75%. The gene source is phenotyped according to the main characteristics of the fruits and the vegetation period. The mutation found cannot be directly used in a breeding program, but it is of interest for studying this important trait. The success of detecting flowers that are sterile depends on the number of watermelon plants, which, for the conditions of the experiment, amounted to a minimum of 4492 plants at a probability level of P3—0.95.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Two mutations were found in the watermelon collection.
- Taxon
- Watermelon
Citrullus lanatust0 - Outcome
- mutationse0
- Value
- twoe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The results revealed that two mutations were found.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
An Asar mutant formed degenerated structures instead of male and female flowers and was completely sterile.
- Taxon
- WatermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Material
- Asare0
- Organ / stage
- male and female flowerse0
- Outcome
- completely degenerated structures in the place of male and female flowerse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The first mutation was in a plant of the Asar variety, which formed completely degenerated structures in the place of male and female flowers that were completely sterile.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
A second mutation affected male and female flowers and leaf shape.
- Taxon
- WatermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- male flowers, female flowers, and leaf shapee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The other mutation affected male flowers, female flowers, and leaf shape.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
Mutant male flowers produced little pollen.
- Taxon
- WatermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Organ / stage
- Male flowerse0
- Outcome
- small amount of pollene0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Male flowers produced a small amount of pollen.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
Mutant female flowers were sterile and aborted early.
- Taxon
- WatermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Organ / stage
- Female flowerse0
- Outcome
- sterile and aborted at an early stagee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Female flowers were formed, but they were sterile and aborted at an early stage.”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
Pollination of normal plants produced 25% mutant and 75% normal progeny.
- Taxon
- WatermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- next generation segregate into mutante0
- Value
- 25%e0
- Qualifier
- normal—75%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“normal plants, which in the next generation segregate into mutant—25% and normal—75%”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
The mutation was judged unsuitable for direct breeding use.
- Taxon
- WatermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- cannot be directly used in a breeding programe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The mutation found cannot be directly used in a breeding program”
t0“Watermelon”
Claim · model-written summary
Detecting sterile flowers required at least 4492 plants at P3—0.95 under the experiment conditions.
- Taxon
- WatermelonCitrullus lanatust0
- Outcome
- minimume0
- Value
- 4492 plantse0
- Qualifier
- P3—0.95e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“minimum of 4492 plants at a probability level of P3—0.95”
t0“Watermelon”