Crosses of tetraploid species with each other or with tetraploid standard daffodils

Most crosses of standard daffodils with diploid species and crosses between diploid species are infertile. If tetraploid species are used the descendants are fertile. Some more information you find within the pdf-text Crosses of tetraploid species with each other or with tetraploid standard daffodils.

Theo

5 comments for “Crosses of tetraploid species with each other or with tetraploid standard daffodils

  1. Theo,
    I am always both delighted and fascinated to see another of your articles appear on Daffnet. The tremendous clarity with which you write about the most arcane details is wonderful. Thank you again.
    Melissa

    Sent from my iPhone

  2. Hello Theo/Melissa

    Indeed, such useful information and advice to all active and would-be hybridisers of miniature daffodils. Raising the standard and range of colours and forms of miniatures needs a more scientific approach than

    some of us have adopted to date. ‘Eye’ breeding is not good enough when working with so many sterile kinds – your report is full of practical information and should help the development of the largely neglected

    miniature daffodils. We still have a long way to go to match the range, perfection and strong growing characteristics of standard daffodils. Such input is invaluable – Thanks Theo.

    Brian

  3. Thanks Theo.

    My fertile 10/10MJ tetraploid jonquilla x (Onibi x Patabundy) produced a couple of seedlings this year that both seem to have some fertility.

    The first is 10_10MJ x (fernandesii x Impeccable). The second is 03_07MJ x 10_10MJ. 03_07MJ is almost certainly fernandesii x Mrs David Calvert.

    There is an explosion of intersectional bulbocodium hybrids here. Inbreeding is looking like a bad idea but it looks as if crosses between Gold Step and bulbocodiums and main division flowers produce enough seedlings with enough fertility for an ongoing program. No orange has yet appeared in conjunction with strong bulbocodium form. I am now wondering if pink might not be easier and did a series of Gold Step x pinks this year. I plan to put lemon or white bulbocodiums back on to these in the expectation that some of these seedlings will also have some fertility.

     

  4. Melissa and Brian,

    I know that most members of Daffnet are interested in other topics than specials of daffodil breeding. So I am happy that you like my article.

     

    Lawrence,

    Your Gold Step from which I got one bulb in 2015 increased very well. It will flower within some days with seven blossoms waiting for being pollinated.

    Theo

     

  5. Hi Theo,

    I’m pleased that Gold Step is doing well. It certainly does well here. I’ve just had a quick look at my results since 2014. I can’t see much to add to my last fertility update. Gold Step does not seem to like tazetta or paperwhite pollen (but accepts Taztep, dubius and Matador types to give highly sterile and not wonderful flowers). It doesn’t seem to like jonquilla pollen but accepts Hillstar/Viriquilla type pollen to produce very vigorous but highly sterile hybrids. It doesn’t seems to like cyclamineus pollen and I have no record of seed from cantabricus if I ever used it. I lifted some amazing 2yo’s this year from a strange tetraploid jonquilla – that should be interesting. Also lifted wonderful bulbs  from GS x hedreanthus from pollen Graham Fleming gave me – that should be interesting. GS x triandrus aren’t wonderfully vigorous in my trying conditions but some may have fertility. I think Mission Bells type flowers might give robust hybrids with some fertility. Pollen from your triandrus x cantabricus might have a good future on Gold Step.

    Too many choices!

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