Andrew Schwartz

                                          Undergraduate Researcher                   

Daffodils

Common Names:  Daffodil, Narcissus, Jonquil

Scientific Name:  Narcissus spp.

Planting Time:  Fall

Height:  10" to 18" with much variation

Exposure:  Full sun or light shade

Bloom Time:  Late winter/early spring

Daffodil Genetic Project

Andy is working on daffodils at the Cincinnati Nature Center. The daffodils at the center were planted back in the early 1900’s by a man named Carl Krippendorf. Krippendorf loved daffodils and planted many of them around his house, now part of the center. The daffodils are now spreading down the side of the hill surrounding his house and are found in distinct clumps. Andy is looking at the daffodils near the house to see if they are genetically related to the ones growing down the hill. As a first step, Andy is currently developing Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) and microsatellite genetic markers to identify the different daffodil cultivars. Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) and microsatellites are based on the same process. The difference between the two markers is that in microsatellites, the fragment contains the DNA repeat, while in ISSR markers, the DNA repeat is used as the primer. ISSRs are much easier to use because while microsatellites are potentially more powerful, they take substantial time to develop.

Andrew W. Schwartz
Care of Theresa Culley
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Cincinnati
614 Rieveschl Hall                                                                                                           
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0006
Tel: (513) 556-9705
Fax: (513) 556-5299

Email: schwaraw@email.uc.edu

For other information on Daffodils see American Daffodil Society  http://daffodilusa.org

Page Updated: 05/07/2007