U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Geneva, New York Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Fazio, Gennaroitem
                                            Chao, Chihchengitem
                                            FORSLINE, PHILIP - Former ARS Employeeitem
                                            Richards, Christopheritem
                                            Volk, Gayle
  Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2014
                                    Publication  Date: 12/11/2014
                                    Citation: Fazio, G., Chao, C.T., Forsline, P., Richards, C.M., Volk, G.M. 2014. Tree and root architecture of Malus sieversii seedlings for rootstock breeding. Acta Horticulturae. 1058:585-594.Interpretive Summary: The research described in this manuscript involves the description of tree architectures of wild apple trees and how they might be utilized to develop improved apple rootstocks.  For instance, the presence of spines is undesirable during the propagation phases of apple trees and crossing current spiny rootstocks with wild spine-free parents might result in improved spine-free material.  Another example of a desirable trait is the induction of flat branching, which is associated with higher productivity of an apple tree.  Trees with flat branched, open canopies were found in this germplasm.  The information is being used to select new parents for apple rootstock breeding.
                                Technical Abstract: The foundation of a successful apple orchard is in large part the rootstock used to establish the trees in that orchard.  Apple rootstocks can impart several important architectural tree characters to the scion, among which are reduction in tree size and early production of flowers/fruit.  It is probable that similar root-mediated characteristics exist in natural ancestral apple populations such as Malus sieversii, a species known to have traits  associated with tolerance to several biotic and abiotic stresses.  We sought to understand the genetic determinism of tree architecture of M. sieversii seedlings by measuring several scion and root architecture characters on a total of 1180 high resolution images of dormant 1 year old trees.  These images were analyzed to ascertain number of growing points (tips), tree volume and total length of branch canopy, flat branching, presence of spines, root mass, number of primary roots, and number of thick roots. Analysis of means revealed significant inherited differences for several traits related to tree and root architecture, especially for flat branching, presence of spines, number of primary roots and root mass. Such differences were also detected between sites of origin of the mother trees.  This information is being used to select parents for a new generation of rootstocks that will be evaluated in years to come.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov