CAPACITĂŢIILE ADAPTATIVE ALE GAMETOFITULUI MASCULIN LA SPECIA CUPHEA LANCEOLATA AIT.

Victoria MIHĂILĂ, Еlena BÂLICI Institutul de Genetică şi Fiziologie a Plantelor al AŞM

Rezumat

Various Cuphea species are adapted to temperate climates and characterized by caprylic, capric, and lauric acid-rich seed oils. These fatty acids are solely commercially available from palm kernel and coconut oils; thus is considerable interest in Cuphea as an alternative source of these fatty acids. The main objective of present study is the evaluation of the Cuphea lanceolata Ait. species by their resistance to high temperatures and drought, using the method of male gametophyte selection. The pollen viability was determined by the method of in vitro cultivation on a nutrient medium. The significant difference of this character among genotypes under study was revealed. The variability of pollen viability was also observed. The effect of nigh temperature on male gametophyte viability was investigated. Evaluation of genetic forms by the length of pollen tube demonstrated a significant variability depending on the genotype. There is no correlation between the length of pollen tube and resistance of investigated genotypes (it requires an extensive study in the following experiments). The selection method at the gametophyte level revealed the samples resistant to high temperatures and drought that, later, can be included in the breeding programs to obtain hybrids with valuable agrobiological characters.