Spring frost poses a challenge for all major crops and, in the case of Lupinus mutabilis (Andean lupin) can cause severe damage or even total loss of the crop. Within the LIBBIO project consortium, we conducted a series of experiments in order to develop a suitable protocol for screening lupin germplasm under frost-simulation conditions. Four lupin accessions, one Lupinus albus and three Andean lupins were used in the experiments (L. albus Mihai, L. mutabilis LIB 220, LIB 221, LIB 222). Seedlings at four developmental stages were challenged with five different levels of ‘frost’ stress from low (−2 °C) to high (−10 °C). Notably, young seedling (cotyledons just breaking through the soil surface) showed little evidence of frost damage for temperatures down to −6 °C. At −8 °C, however, damage was evident, suggesting a cold tolerance threshold occurs at this temperature. Interestingly, for later developmental stages, when the first and second leaves were visible, notable differences were observed starting at −6 °C. The results indicate that the plant growth stage is an important parameter when screening for frost tolerance in germplasm. Overall, by identifying Andean lupin genotypes adapted to high abiotic stress factors, farmers will be able to use it as a reference crop with potentially a commercial interest from the food sector, or cosmetics, and biofuel industries.
The evaluation of morphological differences is a traditional method of evolutionary and pedigree relationship determination. It was particularly useful in maize, where phenotypic differences occur (e.g. colour, kernel type and kernel size) (Murariu et al., 2002). However, only molecular markers provide information that is independent of environmental influences or of plant development phase. Therefore, techniques of DNA analysis have become more and more important. Methods based on polymerase chain reaction - PCR - are used widely in research. One of the used methods is the RAPD method (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA) (Beebe et al., 2000). Our aim was to determine the genetic variability existing among maize landraces coming from western part of Romania and to adapt a method for their distinguishing. The use of molecular characterization has allowed the study of diversity within these accessions and the investigation of genetic relationships among them, revealing a wide genetic diversity in this set of 60 accessions, having a highest genetic diversity; they belong to different groups and could be used as base populations for future breeding programs.
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