Compatibility of Interspecific Hybridization in Zantedeschia

Abstract

Two cultivars of Zantedeschia aethiopica (group 1) and 21 cultivars in other Zantedeschia spp. (group 2) were hybridized to investigate the cross-compatibility of each combination. From a total of 757 crosses from 37 hybrid combinations that were attempted, 3,144 resulting embryos were cultured. As a result, 175 embryos representing 26 combinations formed shoots, but all hybrids were albino and viable only in vitro. Some hybrids had plastids of both parents, but no relationship between the appearance of albino hybrids and plastid inheritance could be detected.