Yuan Qiwen, Chen Yang, Zhang Dongyang, Yang Siyu, Yang Minghui, Zhu Xuesong, Guan Chunyu
College of Life Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, China.
PLoS One. 2024 Dec 3;19(12):e0313954. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313954. eCollection 2024.
China possesses a copious and geographically diverse reservoir of hazel (Corylus spp.) resources, albeit scholarly endeavors focusing on the selection and domestication of indigenous wild hazelnut strains remain scant. To develop and utilize high-quality wild hazelnut resources, this study selected eight populations of wild hazelnuts from seven different provenances in Heilongjiang Province, China. Natural hybrid seeds of eight populations were sown in the Chohai Forest Farm in Longjiang County, Heilongjiang Province, in 2018. In April 2020, two-year-old seedlings were used to establish a provenance trial forest, thereby initiating the provenance trial. Growth parameters were measured using electronic calipers, and pollen characteristics were observed under an electron microscope. The trials meticulously explored the trees' flowering biology, growth parameters, and the economic attributes of the produced nuts. Principal component analysis was employed to comprehensively assess differences among the wild hazelnut populations from various provenances, aiming to identify superior wild hazelnut provenances. The results unveiled significant geographical variations among the tested provenances across several facets: the flowering period of male blossoms extended from April 2nd to April 19th, while female flowering occurred within the timeframe of April 2nd to April 22nd. Moreover, pollen grain morphology demonstrated variability, with the polar axis ranging from 14.02 to 17.09 micrometers, the equatorial axis spanning 16.02 to 18.75 micrometers, and the ratio of polar to equatorial axes fluctuating between 0.88 and 0.92. Through correlation analyses, nut length emerged as a pivotal determinant significantly influencing both kernel weight and the hundred-grain weight. A principal component analysis (PCA) further consolidated these findings, selecting the Nehe-originated variegated Corylus heterophylla as the superior provenance based on a comprehensive evaluation of its combined traits. This study constitutes a seminal contribution to the hazelnut breeding endeavor in China, establishing a robust foundation for informed cultivation strategies geared towards optimizing both the yield and the quality of hazelnut resources, thereby advancing the understanding and exploitation of China's wild hazelnut biodiversity.
中国拥有丰富且地理分布多样的榛属（Corylus spp.）资源库，然而，专注于本土野生榛子品种选育和驯化的学术研究仍较为匮乏。为了开发和利用优质野生榛子资源，本研究从中国黑龙江省七个不同种源地选取了八个野生榛子种群。2018年，将八个种群的天然杂交种子播种于黑龙江省龙江县绰哈林场。2020年4月，用两年生苗木建立种源试验林，从而启动种源试验。使用电子卡尺测量生长参数，并在电子显微镜下观察花粉特征。试验详细探究了树木的开花生物学特性、生长参数以及所产坚果的经济属性。采用主成分分析综合评估不同种源野生榛子种群之间的差异，旨在确定优良的野生榛子种源。结果表明，在所测试的种源之间，在几个方面存在显著的地理变异：雄花花期从4月2日延长至4月19日，而雌花花期在4月2日至4月22日之间。此外，花粉粒形态表现出变异性，极轴范围为14.02至17.09微米，赤道轴跨度为16.02至18.75微米，极轴与赤道轴之比在0.88至0.92之间波动。通过相关性分析，坚果长度成为显著影响果仁重量和百粒重的关键决定因素。主成分分析（PCA）进一步巩固了这些发现，基于对其综合性状的全面评估，选择讷河产的变色榛子作为优良种源。本研究为中国榛子育种工作做出了开创性贡献，为制定旨在优化榛子资源产量和质量的明智栽培策略奠定了坚实基础，从而推动了对中国野生榛子生物多样性的认识和开发。
