JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2019, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (01): 18-24.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-2006.201712048

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Analysis and evaluation on flower color characteristics of the Malus ‘Purple Prince' half-sib progenies

PU Jing1,ZHANG Jing1, ZHAO Cong1, FAN Junjun1, JIANG Wenlong1, ZHANG Wangxiang1,2,WANG Gaiping1*   

  1. 1.Co-innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China,College of Forestry,Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037,China; 2. Yangzhou Crabapple Horticulture Limited Company,Yangzhou 225200,China
  • Online:2019-01-28 Published:2019-01-28

Abstract: 【Objective】In this project, experiments were based on the abundant resources in the crabapple germplasm bank. We obtained seeds through free pollination, then obtained half-sib progenies by sowing. The goal of this study was to explore the genetic law of flower color and select super individual with excellent color. 【Method】 We analyzed the color variation of half-sib progenies with ‘Purple Prince' crabapple(Malus ‘Purple Prince')as their mother. To ensure the data measure was representative, the flower color parameters were recorded on the edge, middle, and base of 44 half-sib progeny petals at big budding stage(S1), blooming stage(S2), and end flowering stage(S3). Color was measured using an X-Rite chromatic meter, and the flower color relationship among half-sib progenies and dynamic patterns of the flower color parameter distribution at different developmental stages were evaluated systematically. Comparisons were made with the suspected parental group and excellent plants in half-sib progenies were selected. 【Result】From stage S1 to S3, the spatial distribution and change of color parameter sites in the dimension of L*,C*, and h* changed regularly. L* showed an increasing trend; the proportion of high brightness in the plant was large and the proportion of high brightness plants exhibited an increasing trend with the promotion of the flowering period(The value of L*in the 80-95 interval, S1(45.45%)→ S2(77.27%)→ S3(84.09%)). C* (saturation) showed a continuous downward trend, and the proportion of low saturation plants exhibited an increasing trend with the promotion of the flowering period(The value of C*in the 1-10 interval, S1(50%)→ S2(77.27%)→ S3(84.09%)). h* showed an increasing trend and the ratio of half-sib progenies in the red region(The value of h* in the 0-20 interval)decreased during the flowering process. The half-sib progenies accounted for the largest proportion in the red region at the big budding stage(43.18%), but the half-sib progenies accounted for the largest proportion in the yellow region(The value of h* in the 80-110 interval)at the blooming stage and end flowering stage(34.09% and 38.64%). Overall, the locus L*, C*, and h*of half-sib progenies in S1 were more dispersed than the locus in S2 and S3. Thus, the color in S1 was most abundant. Cluster analysis was based on the flower parameters in S2 because ornamental crabapples had the highest value for flower viewing during the blooming stage. With a genetic distance of 16 and 13, all of the Malus ‘Purple Prince' half-sib progenies could be divided into three series(white series, pink series, and red series)and six color subseries. The white series occupied the largest proportion being 68.2% of the half-sib progenies. In the pink series, the subseries B1(pink red)were brighter than the subseries B2(pink white), and the flower color was well-distributed. In the red series, the brightness of the subseries C1(red)was greater than that of the subseries C2(purple red),but the value of a* was lower. Compared with the possible paternal group(97 ornamental crabapple cultivars), the half-sib progenies had stronger color stability and better color brightness, but the color chroma value was lower. In the three color series, based on high color brightness, high color chroma values, and strong color stability, we found one excellent plant in the white series(Number 5033). This plant had white or very light pink flower color in S1, with high color brightness and high color stability. Based on high color stability and color chroma values, we found one excellent plant in the pink series(Number 5019). The flower color of this plant was stable, and the chroma was high. Based on high color brightness, high color chroma values, and strong color stability, we found one excellent plant in the red series(Number 5032). The plant had bright red flower color, and color stability during S2 to S3. The ornamental values of excellent plants were higher than that of the 97 ornamental crabapple cultivars. 【Conclusions】The genetic basis of half-sib progenies was expanded effectively by free pollination, but the genetic power of purple-red flower color was not strong, and it had an obvious effect on color stability and other traits.

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