ISHS Acta Horticulturae 96: II International Symposium on Spices and medicinal Plants
SOME EXPERIENCES IN BREEDING DIGITALIS LANATA |
| Author: | C. Mastenbroek |
| Abstract:
Obvious variability within the accession of Digitalis lanata named Genova, used by three cooperative growers' organisations, suggested the possibility of an improvement through breeding, which was started in 1972. In three consecutive cycles selection in stands of spaced individual plants was directed towards yield of fresh leaves, an erect attitude, resistance to shooting and to Septoria digitalis, high dry matter and high digoxine content. Digoxine content in dried leaf samples was assessed. Seed was harvested either from individual plants in glasshouses after hand-pollination yielding selfed progenies, from individual plants planted at large distances from eachother in other crops yielding also selfed progenies, from individual plants in groups yielding open pollinated progenies or from groups of plants yielding open pollinated mixed progenies. Progenies were tested in comparative fieldtrials for the same properties as their parent plants. The results clearly demonstrate an improvement in resistance to shooting, in dry matter and in digoxine content in several progenies, whereas an increase in fresh leaves is less evident. Differences in attack by Septoria digitalis have been observed, but the occurrence of this disease has been too erratic to allow a clear statement, that an improved degree of field resistance has been obtained. In 1978 the attack of Botrytis cineria after fruit setting was very severe, resulting in severe losses in seed yield. A number of plants was observed to occur with very little or hardly any attack. Hand pollination was performed by moving a small brush inside flowers with dehisced anthers, resulting in excellent seed yields. Selfed progenies had a tendency to yield less than open pollinated progenies, but an interesting selfed progeny with high dry matter content and a high yield of fresh leaves at an early harvesting date was obtained. Other interesting progenies, which combine a good resistance to shooting and probably an improved leaf yield with clearly improved dry matter and digoxin content, are and will be multiplied and used for growing leaf crops on contract in the Netherlands. | |
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