ISHS Acta Horticulturae 508: XIX International Symposium on Improvement of Ornamental Plants
BREEDING AND SELECTION OF LEUCOSPERMUM FOR SUPERIOR CULTIVARS: 1974 TO 2000 |
| Authors: | L.M. Blomerus, G.M. Littlejohn |
| Keywords: | pincushion, Proteaceae, Fynbos |
| Abstract:
Selections and hand pollination to produce intra- and interspecific hybrids of Leucospermum have been carried out by the ARC Fynbos Unit since 1974, with the releasing of 25 cut flower cultivars since 1979. Breeding objectives changed over time from the appearance of the flower to production characteristics, such as yield per plant, reaction to pruning and production of long stems, and disease resistance. A hand pollination technique was developed after morphological studies of the stigma grove. Initially only pure species were used for hybridisation, but since 1986 hybrids was introduced. Hybridisation results are unpredictable and can differ from one season to another on the same crosses. Two protocols are being used to evaluate the seedlings and the clonal material. To develop and release a cultivar can take 19 to 33 years of selection, propagation and evaluation. | |
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