BREEDING NEW FLOWERING ORNAMENTALS: THE BICAJOUX^® STORY

Eight years ago a research and breeding program, a private-public collaboration between Denis-Plants and ILVO, was started with as final ambition to create a complete new line of flowering Calathea cultivars, combining an attractive foliage with eye-catching flowers.
At the start, limited information was available on the reproductive biology of Marantaceae. Pollination and hybridization methods were developed and a large gene pool was collected.
Plant morphology was described, DNA-content measured and the genetic relationships between genera and species were determined based on AFLP analysis.
An intensive interspecific breeding program was started and embryo-rescue protocols were developed.
Already in the first obtained F₁-populations, some attractive genotypes could be selected that were micropropagated and commercially released.
A marketing campaign was developed to introduce these novelties under the trade name Bicajoux^®, referring to the double (“bi”) function – foliage and flowers – of this calathea’s (“ca”). Since no growing schemes were available for these new plants, climate factors influencing flower initiation and development were determined.

XXIV International Eucarpia Symposium Section Ornamentals: Ornamental Breeding Worldwide

J. Van Huylenbroeck , E. Calsyn, A. Van den Broeck , R. Denis

Calathea, Marantaceae, interspecific breeding

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.953.18