RELATIONSHIPS OF NEW LEUCADENDRON HYBRIDS FROM THE FUTURE FYNBOS BREEDING PROGRAMME

Future Fynbos is a privately funded breeding venture, based in South Africa, breeding new cultivars for commercial cut flower production and potted plants, mainly in the family Proteaceae. Breeding of genus Leucadendron R.Br started in 2003 with the initial focus on cone products for the Christmas market.
Hybridisation was achieved through controlled hand-pollination of selected species and hybrids, in certain cases with stored pollen.
The parents for the crosses that lead to these new hybrids were specifically selected on the basis of vigour and cone qualities.
Two new cultivars, ‘Cape Kiss’ (PBR pending) and ‘Cape Sunset’ (PBR pending), were released in 2011. Two more cultivars, ‘African Sky’ and ‘African Sunrise’ will be released in 2012. The female parents, of the new hybrids were Leucadendron salignum × L. laureolum and L. salignum × L. eucalyptifolium, from the Alata subsection in the section Alatosperma. Three of the new hybrids were intrasectional, with the male parents also from the Alata subsection of genus Leucadendron. One of the new hybrids was intersectional with the male parent coming from the Nucifera subsection in the section Leucadendron. Intersectional hybrids in genus Leucadendron are relatively uncommon and thus highly sought-after.

XI International Protea Research Symposium

C.J. O’Brien, H.B. Hettasch

Leucadendron, hybrids, new cultivars, breeding, hybridisation

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1031.10