Morphological, anatomical and genetic differentiation of Cornus mas, Cornus officinalis and their interspecific hybrid

Abstract

Cornus mas L., C. officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. and their putative interspecific hybrid specimens were examined in order to describe their morphological, anatomical and genetic differentiation. Petiole length, number of leaf veins, pedicel and bract length, stone size, thickness of pericarp layers, the size and number of locules and the number of cavities were measured. Pedicels and bracts were shown to be significantly longer for C. mas (7.22 and 6.95 mm) and for the putative hybrid (9.11 and 6.61 mm) than for C. officinalis (6.86 and 5.81 mm, respectively). Average values of stone width and thickness, exocarp and mesocarp thickness, the number of cavities in the endocarp obtained for the putative hybrid differed significantly in comparison to C. mas and were similar to C. officinalis. Genotypes of the examined species were evaluated for genetic relationships using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Initial screening of the bulks of C. mas and C. officinalis compared with their putative hybrid using 72 decamer random primers resulted in the identification of 24 primers differentiating both species and their putative hybrid and showing reliable polymorphisms. Among a total of 485 amplified fragments, 89.7% were polymorphic, 18.8% were specific to C. mas individuals, and 18.6% were specific to the individuals of C. officinalis. In obtained profiles of the examined hybrid individual specific products absent in the genotypes of both parents were observed. The phylogenetic tree revealed two separate clusters including C. mas and C. officinalis accessions, respectively. The biggest genetic distance was observed for hybrid specimens, although the hybrid belonged to the C. mas cluster.

Early diverging asterids of the Late Cretaceous:Suciacarpa starriigen. et sp. nov. and the initial radiation of Cornales

“…These cells are 120-275 m long and 48-84 m wide. The endocarp has an anatomically distinctive inner layer that lines each locule, similar to the "inner-endocarp layer" observed in cornelian cherries (Morozowska et al 2013). This inner-endocarp layer is a multiseriate zone of transversely elongated narrow fibers (9-15 m in diameter) that are more or less circumlocular (Figs.…”

Anatomical study of Cornus mas L. and Cornus officinalis Seib. et Zucc. (Cornaceae) endocarps during their development

“…Based on the observations of transverse and longitudinal sections of mature fruits in C. mas and C. officinalis as well as the existing literature data (kaniewski & hausBrandt 1968, Morozowska et al 2013) it may be stated that the anatomical structure in the fully developed pericarp is similar in both analysed species. It is composed of three layers: the exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp.…”

“…The endocarp (the stone) is formed by cells with thick, lignified walls. In the endocarp we may distinguish two layers, the outer and the inner endocarp, which differ in terms of the shape of cells and their orientation (Morozowska et al 2013).…”

“…The manner of formation, distribution and size of & hausBrandt (1968), at the very early stage of fruit formation, still in the ovary, a band of two to three layers of cells was observed at the boundary of the mesocarp and the future endocarp, separating these two layers, which the above-mentioned authors called the circular strand. Morozowska et al (2013) also described the presence of two to five layers of cells, forming the so-called transition sclereid zone located on the outer margin of an endocarp. The present work confirmed these results both at the early and at the late phases of the drupe development, with the presence of one to two/four layers of cells with only slightly thickened cell walls on the outer margin of the endocarp (Fig.…”

“…Moreover, studies on the formation of the pericarp in several selected species from the genus Cornus were also carried out by kaniewski & hausBrandt (1968). In relation to the genus Cornus a recent study described and presented a comparative analysis along with an analysis of genetic variation of the anatomical structure of mature fruits in C. mas and C. officinalis as well as their apparent hybrid (Morozowska et al 2013). Results of the above mentioned studies indicate different types of endocarp development in stone fruits.…”