ISHS Acta Horticulturae 602: VI International Protea Research Symposium
INHERITANCE OF IMPORTANT TRAITS IN INTERSPECIFIC LEUCADENDRON HYBRIDS |
| Authors: | B. Croxford, G. Yan, R. Sedgley |
| Keywords: | Plant breeding, interspecific hybridization, sex, flower color, juvenility, plant form |
| Abstract:
More than 20,000 seeds have been produced from controlled hybridization within Leucadendron. Our germination and early selection results suggest that most of the hybrid seeds are both viable and true hybrids as they share characteristics from both parents. Field assessment of the 1670 hybrid plants planted in 1999 indicated that superior genotypes might be selected from this population. Preliminary count of sex indicated a single gene control system as most families segregate in a 1:1 ratio. Hybrid vigor is observed among most of the families, although abnormal seedlings were observed in some cross combinations. Low survival rates were a feature of some genotypes at some locations. Flowering time is closely related to parent flowering time. Red colored male flowerheads were a feature of some parental species and this trait was observed in some of the offspring between these species and other yellow flowered species. Likewise red, pink or ivory colored floral bracts present in some parental species were inherited by the offspring. Hybrids between the singlehead and multihead forms tended to produce offspring of an intermediate form. It appears that regeneration ability (epicormic buds) observed in some parents was passed to their offspring when crossed with species without this trait. | |
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