ISHS Acta Horticulturae 602: VI International Protea Research Symposium
IMPROVEMENT OF WARATAHS (TELOPEA SPP.) THROUGH BREEDING |
| Author: | C. Offord |
| Keywords: | hybridisation, stigma receptivity, pollen viability, genetic diversity |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.602.16 |
| Abstract:
Waratahs (Telopea spp.) are still largely undeveloped despite their increasing importance to the Australian cut flower industry. In order to develop an understanding of the requirements of a waratah breeding program, the following areas were investigated at the Mount Annan Botanic Garden in New South Wales, Australia: 1. The breeding system of Telopea speciosissima to determine the potential and optimum strategies for manipulation; 2. The variation within and between natural populations of Telopea speciosissima; 3. The commercially important characters in current cultivars of Telopea spp. and the potential for improving these cultivars through inter- and intra-specific breeding; 4. The genetic basis of a range of biologically and commercially important characters in waratahs. This information is useful for breeding for specific trait combinations in waratahs and field-testing. A review of this work and recommendations for further research and development are presented. | |
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