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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #218930
Title: Collection, conservation, and seed zones for Tapertip onion (Allium acuminatum Hook).

Author
item Johnson, Richard
item Hellier, Barbara
item Kisha, Theodore

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2007
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: These studies showed Tapertip onion traits varied with collection location and that molecular variation and certain phenotypic traits were associated with simple geographic factors. This suggests developing seed transfer zones and identifying adapted germplasm for Tapertip onion should be possible for Great Basin restoration and conservation.

Technical Abstract: Native germplasm adapted to the Great Basin is needed for revegetation and restoration efforts. This requires comprehensive germplasm collection, field evaluation in common gardens and establishing links between genetic variation and environmental/geographic factors across the landscape. A collection of 55 populations of Allium acuminatum (Tapertip onion) representing 20 level IV Omernik ecoregions was completed in 2005. Common gardens were established in 2006 at Pullman and Central Ferry, WA. Emergence in 2006 was highly variable but the data showed differences associated with collection location, suggesting genetic variation across the landscape and the potential for mapping seed zones. Traits with strong location effects (P<0.001) included bolting and flowering dates, leaves per plant, scape length, and flower color. Collection location latitude correlated with the number of bolted plants (r= 0.52**, n=53), leaves/plant (r= 0.31*, n=53), and maturity date (r=0.32*, n=37). Collection longitude correlated with seed/plant (r= 0.36*, n=36) and flower color (r= -0.36*, n=43), and collection elevation with bolting date (r= 0.36*, n=44). Sequence Related Amplified Polymorphisms (SRAP) analysis also showed genetic differences among germplasm collected from different locations. Matrix correlation between resemblance coefficients derived from SRAP markers and geographic factors based on latitude, longitude, and elevation was significant (r= -0.17**, n=1326). These studies show Tapertip onion traits varied with collection location and that certain traits were associated with geographic factors. This suggests developing seed transfer zones, adapted germplasm, and in situ conservation sites for Tapertip onion should be possible.