Genus Nicotiana L.: a review of traits significant for ornamental crop production

Background. The collection of Nicotiana L. species (Solanaceae) maintained at the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Tobacco, Makhorka and Tobacco Products (VNIITTI) is a valuable genetic resource used in breeding and genetic research on interspecific hybridization, cytoplasmic male sterility, and as a genebank for resistance to major tobacco diseases. Many species have ornamental features and properties: bright color and unusual morphology of the corolla, aroma, peculiar plant shape and others, and are promising for use in landscaping and garden designing. To identify and evaluate such species the collection was for the first time screened for a set of morphological and ornamental characters.
Materials and methods. Thirty-seven accessions of Nicotiana spp. were studied in the greenhouses and at the experimental breeding site of VNIITTI using breeding methods and agricultural practices developed at the Institute and generally accepted in crop production.
Results and conclusion. Phenotypic assessment of 37 Nicotiana accessions resulted in identifying for the first time 14 traits of ornamental value and selecting 18 original species and 10 hybrids of N. alata × N. × sanderae environmentally adapted to the local conditions and promising for landscaping and garden designing: with bright flowers, prolonged flowering, and relative resistance to stressful weather conditions. The typicality and stability of their progeny was assessed, and their germplasm was maintained and preserved in vivo.

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