The generation of novel species hybrids between garden dahlias and Dahlia macdougallii to increase the gene pool for variety breeding

authored by

Stephan Schie, Thomas Debener

Abstract

To transfer new traits into the gene pool of garden dahlias (Dahlia variabilis), crosses between garden dahlias (2n = 64) and the epiphytic species Dahlia macdougallii (2n = 32) from the section Epiphytum were conducted. Six hybrid plants were obtained. The hybrid status was verified using three SSR markers. In addition, flow cytometry was performed to determine the genome size of the hybrids and to show that the hybrids were hexaploid as expected from crosses between tetraploids and octoploids. The open pollinated progeny of the hybrids produced four progeny with octoploid genomes. The hybrids exhibited indeterminate vegetative growth and the formation of flowers from axillary buds, similar to the father D. macdougallii. This result is of interest for breeding new varieties of dahlia with traits that are not present in the current gene pool.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Plant Genetics
Section Molecular Plant Breeding

Type

Article

Journal

PLANT BREEDING

Volume

132

Pages

224-228

No. of pages

5

ISSN

0179-9541

Publication date

04.2013

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Agronomy and Crop Science, Genetics, Plant Science

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1111/pbr.12034 (Access: Unknown)