Date of Graduation

5-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Horticulture

Advisor/Mentor

Clark, John

Committee Member/Reader

Worthington, Margaret

Committee Member/Second Reader

Garcia, Elena

Abstract

In 2013, Castro et al., produced the first linkage map for primocane-fruiting blackberries using the cross ‘Prime-Jim®’ x ‘Arapaho.’ This mapping population has been maintained since the original experiment with the hopes of conducting future studies. Further research was determined to be needed on the population to better characterize additional phenotypic traits, and since nine years had passed since the seedlings were established, there was a need to assess the continued genetic purity of the population using molecular methods. Phenotypic data was collected to analyze the variation of the population including soluble solids content, titratable acidity, average weight, shape, and firmness. While the population showed significant variation for each quantitative trait measured, the molecular results showed that none of the evaluated progeny matched the marker banding patterns expected based on previous results. Thus, the population was determined to be mislabeled or possibly some plants had grown together contributing to the impurity found. I recommended starting over with a new cross for future molecular mapping studies.

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