Articles
Interspecific crossability as a means to improve Mediterranean sage species with ornamental value
Article number
1345_57
Pages
425 – 430
Language
English
Abstract
In order to obtain new Salvia hybrids with desirable ornamental and commercial characteristics for the horticultural industry, interspecific crossings were done between five native to Greece Salvia species.
The aim was to utilize particular characteristics, such as the bright flower colour of S. pomifera ssp. pomifera, the rich early flowering and drought tolerance of S. fruticosa, the low height of S. ringens, the adaptability to wet and cold climate of S. tomentosa and the cold and drought tolerance of S. officinalis. S. officinalis and S. fruticosa were not crossed with each other, because there have already been hybrids of them in the market.
So, selected clones of these two species were crossed with selected clones of the other three species.
Each clone was used both as a pollen and seed parent for all crossings.
For each crossing at least 100 flowers were fertilized in order to estimate the effectiveness of fertilization.
In spring 2020, S. officinalis was crossed with S. pomifera ssp. pomifera, S. ringens and S. tomentosa. Crossability was observed at much lower percentage (5-7%) in these three combinations compared to self-crossing of S. officinalis (80%), and only when S. officinalis was used as seed parent, whereas it was unsuccessful when used as pollen parent. S. fruticosa, which had very high selfcrossability (92%), when used as seed parent, crosses with S. ringens and S. tomentosa were more successful (19 and 28%, respectively) than those with S. pomifera ssp. pomifera (8%). When S. fruticosa was used as pollen parent, only the cross S. tomentosa × S. fruticosa was feasible.
Produced seeds were sown and hybrids with desirable characteristics were selected for further experimentation.
The aim was to utilize particular characteristics, such as the bright flower colour of S. pomifera ssp. pomifera, the rich early flowering and drought tolerance of S. fruticosa, the low height of S. ringens, the adaptability to wet and cold climate of S. tomentosa and the cold and drought tolerance of S. officinalis. S. officinalis and S. fruticosa were not crossed with each other, because there have already been hybrids of them in the market.
So, selected clones of these two species were crossed with selected clones of the other three species.
Each clone was used both as a pollen and seed parent for all crossings.
For each crossing at least 100 flowers were fertilized in order to estimate the effectiveness of fertilization.
In spring 2020, S. officinalis was crossed with S. pomifera ssp. pomifera, S. ringens and S. tomentosa. Crossability was observed at much lower percentage (5-7%) in these three combinations compared to self-crossing of S. officinalis (80%), and only when S. officinalis was used as seed parent, whereas it was unsuccessful when used as pollen parent. S. fruticosa, which had very high selfcrossability (92%), when used as seed parent, crosses with S. ringens and S. tomentosa were more successful (19 and 28%, respectively) than those with S. pomifera ssp. pomifera (8%). When S. fruticosa was used as pollen parent, only the cross S. tomentosa × S. fruticosa was feasible.
Produced seeds were sown and hybrids with desirable characteristics were selected for further experimentation.
Authors
A.N. Martini, E.G. Stylias, M. Papafotiou, A. Kalantzis, K.F. Bertsouklis
Keywords
Salvia fruticosa, Salvia officinalis, Salvia pomifera, Salvia ringens, Salvia tomentosa, native Mediterranean xerophytes, Salvia hybrids
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