Development of complementary techniques applied to Hydrangea hybridizations

Hydrangea is a genus of ornamental plants traditionally used in landscaping, and gardening, but is gaining new markets as a pot plant, and as fresh and dried cut flowers.
To meet the needs of an expanding market, new hybrids and cultivars should be developed.
Therefore, a project aimed to develop new Hydrangea hybrids was carried out in Italy collaboratively between the CRA-VIV Pescia and a private company, Az.
Mansuino, Sanremo, Italy in 2012. Inter- and intra-specific hybridizations, between different species and cultivars, were carried out.
The development of complementary techniques was necessary to improve the breeding efficacy.
Four preliminary experiments were carried out: i) pollination system; ii) a parameter to evaluate sexual compatibility among hybridized plants; iii) comparison among different fruit-cut systems before their in vitro cultivation, aimed at developing embryos and immature seeds for hybrid rescue; and iv) evaluation of different seed disinfection systems for in vitro germination.
The results of these experiments were applied in a Hydrangea hybridization program using sexual crosses.

XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): International Symposium on Ornamental Horticulture in the Global Greenhouse

B. Nesi, S. Lazzereschi, S. Pecchioli, S. Pacifici, A.G. Venturieri, G. Burchi

hortensia, breeding program, fruit-cut system, seed disinfection, sowing system

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1104.51