ISHS Acta Horticulturae 634: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: IV International Symposium on Taxonomy of Cultivated Plants
AN ADVENTURE IN PARADISE: NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RAISING OF CULTIVARS OF THE GIANT WATERLILY, VICTORIA SCHOMB |
| Author: | K. Knotts |
| Keywords: | back-cross, controlled pollination, germination, hybrids, operculum |
| Abstract:
Since the two species and hybrids of Victoria are thought to be annual, V. ‘Longwood Hybrid’ has to be re-created every season yet its morphological features remain distinct and uniform. This paper describes how the reverse cross, V. ‘Adventure’ was made in 1998 by a small number of Victoria enthusiasts working independently. This and subsequent back-crosses, thought not to be possible on account of ill-matched chromosomes, made through controlled pollination between a parent species and its hybrid progeny are all recognizably distinct from each other. A number of distinctive cultivars have been named and are distributed annually to specialist collections all over the world. This presentation illustrates the history and continuing development of Victoria hybrid cultivars and demonstrates what can be achieved by a group of co-operating enthusiasts who are determined to show that the “impossible” can be achieved through careful planning and experimentation. | |
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