Doctoral defense Uitnodiging doctoraatsverdediging Mehrdad Akbarzadeh

Title doctoral research: "Improving Genetic Diversity within Hardy Geranium Species"

Abstract

The demand for commercially attractive ornamental plants is steadily increasing, prompting this study to increase the diversity within hardy geraniums (Geranium sp.). Various techniques such as interspecific hybridization, polyploidization and Ri technology were used. Different hardy geranium genotypes were studied with analyses including chromosome number, genome size, and genetic distances using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). A predictive model was formulated to estimate immature seed production based on genetic distance. Over three flowering seasons, hybridization resulted in 82 seedlings, of which 54 were confirmed as true hybrids by AFLP analysis. In addition, seven tetraploids of Geranium 'Sanne' were induced, showing remarkable morphological differences, in particular larger flowers and restored fertility. Using Agrobacterium rhizogenes, hairy roots were successfully induced in several hardy geranium genotypes, but shoots were only successfully induced in Geranium 'Blushing Turtle'. Notably, eight Ri lines derived from this cultivar showed variation in morphological traits. These newly acquired plants offer exciting prospects for future breeding efforts aimed at generating innovative cultivars.

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