Biotechnological tools for improvement of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L. complex), valuable medicinal and vegetable plants in Kenya

Solanum nigrum complex is a group of plant species used as indigenous vegetables but also as traditional medicinal plants in Kenya and other parts of the world. In Kenya, just like in most African countries, both the unripe fruits and leaves are used to cure different ailments. This vegetable is said to improve the CD4 count in HIV patients and all HIV patients are encouraged to take it as part of their diet. Despite that high value, African nightshade is a neglected crop. Up to now the farmers exploit traditional landraces and accessions. For development of improved African S. nigrum varieties, knowledge is necessary about the genetic structure of the local African nightshade accessions. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was performed to discriminate accessions from the Western region of Kenya. Production of haploid plants of the S. nigrum complex and subsequent chromsome doubling is a promising tool to obtain pure inbred lines in a short time. Therefore, in this study, anthers of S. nigrum were cultivated in vitro. It was observed that the microspores underwent the first divisions and calluses were formed

Strategien für die Melissezüchtung (Melissa officinalis)

Es wurden 120 Melisseherkünfte in Feldversuchen evaluiert. In diesem Material wurde die Variabilität für Winterhärte, Gehalt und Zsammensetzung des ätherischen Öls, Rosmarinsäuregehalt und eingeschränkt Blattertrag beschrieben. Die beschriebene Variabilität ermöglichte die Entwicklung homozygoter Linien mit hoher Eigenleistung für die genannten Zuchtziele bis zur I4-Inzuchtgeneration. Die Kreuzung definierter Linien ermöglichte die Schaffung eines neuen Genpools als Ausgansmaterial für die Entwicklung weiterer aussichtsreicher Linien. Stichwörter: Melisse, Melissa officinalis L., Winterhärte, ätherisches Öl, Rosmarinsäure, ZüchtungBreeding strategies for lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)Evaluation was carried out in field experiments with 120 accessions of lemon balm. This material was characterized for winter hardiness, amount and composition of essential oil, amount of rosmarinic acid and, to a certain degree, for yield of leaves. The characterized variability opened the possibility to develop homozygous lines for the mentioned breeding goals up to inbreed generation I4. Crossing of defined lines created a new gene pool of basic material for development of new promising lines. Keywords: lemon balm, Melissa officinalis L., winter hardiness, essential oil, rosmarinic acid, breedin