INTERSPECIFIC ALBINO AND VARIEGATED HYBRIDS IN THE GENUS ZANTEDESCHIA

摘要

Following interspecific hybridization between the two sections of the genus Zantedeschia, embryo development was restricted to the globular stage and the endosperm became degenerate and watery. Embryo culture was used to rescue hybrid embryos and the 178 hybrid plants produced were all albino because of plastome-genome incompatibility. A newly described species Z. odorata, which falls in between the two sections of the genus, was used in an attempt to transfer genes between the two sections. Hybrids from section I x Z. odorata were virescent and fertile. Hybrids from the reciprocal cross, Z. odorata x section I, were either virescent, albino or variegated. When Z. odorata was crossed with section II, embryo and endosperm development improved considerably compared with crosses between sections I and II. However, all hybrids were albino. Hybrids were confirmed using RFLP analysis with a ribosomal DNA probe. [References: 29]