Dormancy release, germination and ex situ conservation of the southern highland papaya (Vasconcellea quercifolia, Caricaceae), a wild crop relative

URTASUN, MARÍA MANUELA; GIAMMINOLA, EUGENIA MABEL; BASKIN, CAROL CAUDLE; DE VIANA, MARTA LEONOR; MORANDINI, MARCELO NAHUEL; LAMAS, CAROLA YANINA; ROJAS, MACARENA FERNANDA

SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2019 vol. 263

0304-4238

The genetic traits of wild species closely related to crop plants provide opportunities for increased crop production and food security in the face of global climate change. Highland papayas, Vasconcellea spp., have valuable traits for the improvement of common papaya. Vasconcellea quercifolia is the only species of the genus that inhabits both the Andean lowlands and highlands, and it has been proposed as the best option for intergenic hybrids. However, limited information is available on seed dormancy release, germination and ex situ conservation of species belonging to this genus. We investigated the effects of desiccation and storage, in combination with seven pre-germination treatments, on dormancy release and viability of seeds from five wild populations of V. quercifolia along a latitudinal gradient in NW Argentina. Effectiveness of pre-germination treatments on dormancy release increased concomitantly with a decrease in seed moisture content (MC). Ultra-dry (