Genome Doubling of Northern Spicebush, Lindera benzoin
Ramsey Arram, MHS Seminar
Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 1:00 pm
(Under the direction of Dr. Hsuan Chen [Chair], Dr. Hudson Ashrafi and Dr. Gina Fernandez)

Location (Hybrid): 121 Kilgore Hall / Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting: https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/91322111689?pwd=S2xmL3JSaDFsVUlXaXAxWUt2ZE1Zdz09
Meeting ID: 913 2211 1689
Passcode: 936811

 Arram.Abstr.pdf

Abstract
Lindera benzoin is a dioecious understory shrub, native to eastern North America. It has potential as an ornamental shrub for its golden-yellow fall foliage, attractive bright red drupes and yellow flowers appearing in early spring. However, in the wild the plant is small and unassuming. We propose that tetraploid induction of L. benzoin could result in desirable ornamental traits including improved or larger plant form, flower size, fruit size, branching and vigor. This study established a protocol for in vivo tetraploid induction on two populations of L. benzoin seedlings collected from two locations in North Carolina. A total of 288 seedlings were treated with oryzalin. For each treatment, 40-58 plants were exposed to 150 µmol of oryzalin for durations of 24, 72 and 120 hr. After plants were treated, survival ranged from 35 to 70%. Through flow cytometry we determined that 12.2 % of the seedlings exposed to 24 hr. oryzalin treatment were tetraploid in one of the populations. Overall, there were 16 confirmed tetraploid (5.5%) L. benzoin plants from a total of 288 seedlings