ISHS Acta Horticulturae 387: III International Protea Research Symposium
DEVELOPMENT OF LEUCADENDRON SINGLE STEM CUT FLOWERS |
| Authors: | G.C. van den Berg, G.J. Brits |
| Abstract:
Although leucadendrons are traditionally marketed as greens/foliage-type flowers, a high market demand potentially exists for superior quality Leucadendron single stem cut flowers as a separate product. A problem with Leucadendron is that the desireable cut flower combination of attractive large flower heads, long flowering branches and a high yield is almost impossible to find within a single species. Therefore interspecific crosses must necessarily be used to combine good qualities from different species. A three-phase programme was launched to breed such leucadendrons: 1) testing for cross compatibility amongst species; 2) an interspecific hybridization programme and 3) selection, and evaluation of the programme. The test study showed that Leucadendron species hybridize comparatively well within the sub-genus Alatosperma. In the hybridization programme vigorous, high yielding, F1 hybrids with exceptionally long stems and attractive, large flower heads were found. In addition these selections have a relatively wide seasonal flowering/marketable period. | |
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