Interspecific Hybridization within Ornamental Plants: Characterization of Interspecific Reproductive Isolation to the Development of Intrageneric Hybrids of the Kalanchoë and Hibiscus Genera

Katarzyna Kuligowska

Abstract

The economic importance of the ornamental plant industry requires constant development of novel and high quality varieties. Traits attractive for production of new ornamental plants may not be available within the commercial cultivars, but broad genetic variation is present within the plant genera. Interspecific hybridization is one of the most important breeding strategies to increase the genetic variation. The main difficulty in obtaining interspecific hybrids is due to occurrence of reproductive barriers. In the study, the possibilities of developing novel interspecific hybrids were studied within two commercially important genera of ornamental plants: Kalanchoë and Hibiscus. The nature of hybridization barriers hampering hybrid production was investigated during pre- and post-fertilization stages. For each genus the interspecific crosses of Kalanchoë species and Hibiscus species, abnormal germination and growth of pollen tubes, as well as lower frequencies of pollen tubes were observed in specific cross-combinations. Post-fertilization barriers related to endosperm development and hybrid incompatibility were also observed in Kalanchoë and Hibiscus genus, respectively. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was employed to characterized new features and ornamental value of obtained interspecific hybrids.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherDepartment of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
Number of pages181
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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