Rosanna Freyre

Research Assistant Professor, Dept. Plant Biology

Ornamental Breeding Program

Rosanna Freyre Dr. Freyre initiated the Ornamental Breeding Program at the University of New Hampshire in 1998. Initially, research focused on Anagallis monelli (Blue Pimpernel), an annual plant of Mediterranean origin with beautiful blue flowers and trailing habit. Breeding aims were to create improved genetic lines with more compact growth, earlier flowering in the spring and different flower colors than existing cultivars. The first two cultivars Anagallis `Wildcat Blue' and `Wildcat Orange' were commercially released as Proven Selections® in 2002. Two new cultivars 'Wildcat Pink' and 'Wildcat Mandarin' were released in 2005.

A. monelli: blue, orange, red Collaborative genetic research between UNH and USDA has resulted in a proposed model for flower color inheritance of blue, orange and red flower colors in A. monelli (Freyre and Griesbach, 2004). Populations developed from wild diploid A. monelli germplasm have been used to test the genetic model and for studies of anthocyanin inheritance at the molecular level.

Nolana Breeding work is also being done on Nolana, a genus native to desert areas from Peru and Chile. We now have several species being grown at UNH representing a wide germplasm base. The main breeding goal is to develop sterile interspecific hybrids with potential as new vegetatively-propagated cultivars. Research objectives are to gain insight on the phylogeny and speciation in this genus. Studies on compatibility between species (Freyre et al., 2005), floral development, seed anatomy and germination are in progress.

Other genera currently used for breeding at UNH are Browallia and Salvia.

Ornamental Breeding Team (2005-2006):

Andrea Quintana, M.S., genetic research in A. monelli.
Amy Douglas, M.S. candidate, Nolana research.
Deborah Schneider, part-time technician.

Recent Publications

Anagallis 'Wildcat Mandarin', US Plant Patent applied for, 2005.
Anagallis 'Wildcat Pink', US Plant Patent applied for, 2005.
Freyre, R., A.C. Douglas and M.O. Dillon. 2005. Artificial Hybridizations in Five Species of Chilean Nolana (Solanaceae). HortSci. 40:532-536.
Freyre R. 2005. Anagallis (Anagallis monelli). In Anderson N. (ed.). Flower breeding and genetics: Issues, challenges and opportunities for the 21st century. Vol.2. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. pp. 214-229.
Freyre R and R.J. Griesbach. 2004. Inheritance of flower color in Anagallis monelli L. Hortsci. 39:1220-1223.
Anagallis 'Wildcat Blue', US Plant Patent 15,137 P2, 2004.
Anagallis 'Wildcat Orange', US Plant Patent 15,136 P2, 2004.
Esmel, C., R. Freyre and P. Fisher. 2002. UNH Growing a green generation. Curriculum of gardening activities for preschool and kindergarten children. First Edition. Univ. of NH, Durham, NH.
Freyre R. and J.B. Loy. 2000. Evaluation and yield trials of Tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) in New Hampshire. HortTechnology 10:374-377.
Freyre R. 1999. Growing tomatillos. American Vegetable Grower, April 1999. pgs. 38-39.
Freyre R. 1999. Growing tomatillos. Country Folk's Grower. March 1999. pg. 16.
Freyre R., P. Skroch, V. Geffroy, A-F. Adam-Blondon, A. Shirmohamadali, W.C. Johnson, V. Llaca, R.O. Nodari, P.A. Pereira, S-M. Tsai, J. Tohme, M. Dron, J. Nienhuis, C.E. Vallejos and P. Gepts. 1998. Towards an integrated map of common bean. 4. Development of a core linkage map and alignment of RFLP maps. Theor. Appl. Genet. 97:847-856.
Freyre R., R. Ríos, L. Guzmán, D.G. Debouck and P. Gepts. 1996. Ecogeographic distribution of Phaseolus spp. (Fabaceae) in Bolivia. Econ. Bot. 50:195-215.
Freyre R. and D.S. Douches. 1994. Development of a model for marker-assisted selection of specific gravity in diploid potato across environments. Crop Sci. 34:1361-1368.
Freyre R., B. Sosinski, S. Warnke and D.S. Douches. 1994. Quantitative trait loci analysis of tuber dormancy in diploid potato (Solanum spp.). Theor. Appl. Genet. 89:474-480.
Freyre R. and D.S. Douches. 1994. Isoenzymatic identification of quantitative traits in crosses between heterozygous parents: mapping tuber traits in diploid potato (Solanum spp.). Theor. Appl. Genet. 87:764-772.
Watanabe K., Orrillo M., Iwanaga M., Ortiz R., Freyre R., Perez S. 1994. Diploid potato germplasm derived from wild and land race genetic resources. Am. Pot. J. 71: 599-604.
Douches, D.S and R. Freyre. 1994. Identification of genetic factors influencing chip color in diploid potato (Solanum spp.) Am. Pot. J. 71:581-590.