Obtención de una población selecta de cyclamen persicum a partir de un híbrido comercial

In Argentina, the production of Cyclamen persicum L. (florist’s cyclamen) is iniciated with imported hybrid seeds, or national seed of unknown genetic composition. Our hypothesis was that an improved population would provide competitive seed. The aim of this work was to build a selected population, with improved phenotypes and good response to diseases. The assays began in 2003. F3 plants from an F2 plant with a superior performance, from F1 Sierra Series, were grown under low fertilizer input and free of fungicides, in a greenhouse in Buenos Aires. The number of petals, leaves, flowers and flower buds were recorded for self-pollinized plants along the experiment. Variation coefficients showed the existence of polimorphisms compatible with the response to selection. Twenty four percent of the plants were selected due to their number of flowers, response to pathogenic fungi, plant appearance and peduncle length. The mean number of leaves was low. Flower bud production showed a maximum in January 2005, not correlated with the number of flowers. Early flowering plants are candidates to be selected. The low number of leaves and the death of flower buds were attributed to high temperatures. Consequently, selected plants carry information for heat and fungi resistance, show certain homogeinity and would locally show more aptitude than F2. It is suggested that commercial fertilization will eliminate differences of the worst genotipes, thus reaching an uniformity similar to F1. National seeds were not obtained by plant breeders as they originate from crossings between registered materials with genetic distance. If they are not cultivated in appropiate environments, seed quality, germination percentage and energy could diminish. Correct management of the selected seed-producing plants, and not only the hybrid constitution, will contribute to their optimum production. The present work is a contribution in the seek for strategies to replace imported seed used in the establisment of Cyclamen persicum commercial plantings, as it was demonstrated that it would be possible to obtain a competitive plant cultivar if the task is professionally done.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------La producción nacional de Cyclamen persicum L. (violeta de los Alpes) se inicia con semillas importadas de origen híbrido, o nacional de composición genética incierta. Se hipotetizó que una población mejorada suministraría semilla competitiva. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue constituir una población sel