STUDIES ON THE INHERITANCE OF POPPY (PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM L.) ALKALOIDS AND THE NEW CULTIVAR 'KORONA' ACCUMULATING HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF NARCOTINE

Breeding of poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) is running now basically into two directions: development of high and special alkaloid containing genotypes for the industry and selection of cultivars of minimal alkaloid content for seed consumption. The aim of our recent research has been the construction of a special industrial cultivar, accumulating elevated levels of narcotine. F₁-F₃ progenies of the crossing ‘Kheops’ × ‘Kék Gemona’ cultivars were evaluated and the alkaloid content measured by TLC and densitometric methods. In the F₁ main alkaloids showed intermedier characteristics, while the minor ones overdominance. The features of lacking or accumulating high levels of narcotine separated already in the F₂ generations. The best individuals were detected in the accessions of ‘Kék Gemona’ as maternal parent. The presence of narcotine seems to be a recessive trait. Based on this study, gene interactions could be hypothesized. The best strains were improved and stabilized by Pedigree method. In 2008 a new and unique cultivar ‘Korona’ has been registered, containing 20-25 mg/g narcotine in the capsules.