Fertile triandrus hybrids

In Daffnet (November 7, 2016) Graham Fleming wrote that he got seeds from combining several of his triandrus hybrids with a special triandrus variety (NTT) with one chromosome set of the standard daffodils (N) and two of N. triandrus (T). Triandrus hybrids of the type NTT and NNT are sometimes fertile with NT pollen and/or egg cells. Therefore the seedlings of Graham should be NNTT and have good fertility.

Other breeders don’t need to wait for obtaining these seedlings, but can use and sometimes have  used the existing fertile varieties Silver Bells (NNT), Lapwing (NNTT), Ice Chimes (NTT), and Honey Bells (NNT).

In DaffSeek we find that Silver Bells has been crossed with N. triandrus concolor to get Ice Chimes. Mission Bells (NNTT) and Lapwing (NNTT) come from Silver Bells selfed. Wood Nymph (NNTT ?) is Honey Bells x Silver Bells. A combination with  fertile jonquilla hybrids is also possible: Quick Bells (NNTJ) is Silver Bells x Quick Step. I got some nice seedlings of Silver Bells x N. cantabricus from Spain. They were killed by an extraordinary frost period in the winter of 2011/2012. Crosses with other diploid species for example yellow bulbocodiums like N. bulbocodium ectandrus or nivalis or N. cyclamineus can also be made.

For Lapwing there are no crosses listed in DaffSeek. I gained many seeds from it in 2016 by pollination with the jonquilla hybrid Proliferation.

For Ice Chimes one finds also no crosses in DaffSeek. I obtained many seeds (NTTJ) by crossing it with my tetraploid Hawera.

Honey Bells x N. cyclamineus originated El Camino and with Green Island Waxwing. I don’t posess it. It seems difficult to get it in commerce.

Theo

1 comment for “Fertile triandrus hybrids

  1. Thanks Theo.

    I’ve had vague notions of writing some fertility updates again but not a lot happens in 2 years. I’ve identified a couple more sterile triploid seedlings that set seed. Perhaps not surprisingly, these seem to be the most effective pollen parents onto Mission Bells. I am still collecting small amounts of seed but am getting more each year. I am also numbering main division flowers that nod,reflex and have more than one flower to a stem. I have some 2yo seedlings to lift. Perhaps there will be something interesting there to report.

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