Preliminary Studies On Intergeneric Hybridization In Asteraceae-Anthemideae-Chrysantheminae Tribe

The project aims at introducing new characters especially stress resistance within the germplasm, the close genera (Asteraceae-Anthemideae-Chrysantheminae tribe) into modern chrysanthemums by intergeneric hybridization. In the meantime, the relationship among the genera was primary identified.Firstly, we investigated and collected the close genera and collected some relative wild species including Dendranthema oreastrum distributed in the Xiaowutai Mountain, Hebei province, D. hypargyrum and A. pallasiana, distributed in the Taibai Mountain, Shanxi province, Brachanthemum pulvinatum, B. gobicum, Ajania fruticulosa, A. achilloides, Elachanthemum intricatum, Hippolytia alashanensis, distributed in Helan Mountains and near deserts, Ningxia Huizu Autonomous Regions and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and B. mongolicum, A. fruticulosa distributed in Xijiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Secondly, We succeeded the rapid propagation of D. hypargyrum by tissue culture and selected the best culture medium.Thirdly and most important, 629 seeds, 130 hybrid seedlings were obtained through 12 intergeneric crosses, 144 heads, 4740 florets between genera Ajania, Brachanthemum, Elachanthemum, Pyrethrum and Dendranthema in 2003 and 2004. The seedlings of Ajania and Dendranthema were identified and the whole embryo development of A.pacifica × D.vestitum were observed with whole clearing technology.Lastly, the result of the intergeneric hybridization suggested that genera Dendranthema and Ajania have high compatibility, their relationship is close, Dendranthema and Elachanthemum have compatibility, their relationship is relative close. The relationship between Brachanthemum and Dendranthema needs to be further studied which might be distant. Pyrethrum and Dendranthema have low compatibility, their relationship is distant.