Articles
BREEDING AND SELECTION OF SUPERIOR PROTEA CULTIVARS: 1980 – 2000
Article number
508_67
Pages
349 – 350
Language
Abstract
The Proteaceae family of plants is found in southern and central Africa, Australasia and South America.
The predominant genera used in the international floriculture trade originate from the Cape Floral Kingdom within South Africa.
The genus Protea is one of the most important genera for use as cut fresh and dried flowers.
Breeding Protea was initiated in South Africa in 1974, with the first cultivar releases in 1979. Breeding and selection of Protea can be divided into four main activities: mass selection, single plant clonal selection, chance interspecific hybrid selection and controlled-pollination interspecific hybrid selection.
Each of these activities will be described, giving the advantages and disadvantages, and the overcoming of breeding hurdles associated with each activity.
Future breeding initiatives will be proposed.
The predominant genera used in the international floriculture trade originate from the Cape Floral Kingdom within South Africa.
The genus Protea is one of the most important genera for use as cut fresh and dried flowers.
Breeding Protea was initiated in South Africa in 1974, with the first cultivar releases in 1979. Breeding and selection of Protea can be divided into four main activities: mass selection, single plant clonal selection, chance interspecific hybrid selection and controlled-pollination interspecific hybrid selection.
Each of these activities will be described, giving the advantages and disadvantages, and the overcoming of breeding hurdles associated with each activity.
Future breeding initiatives will be proposed.
Authors
G.M. Littlejohn, L.M. Blomerus, A. Robyn
Keywords
Proteaceae, sugarbush, hybridisation, breeding systems, cut flowers
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