Studies on the Development of New Ornamental Allium through Interspecific Hybridization. I. Evaluation of Commercial Ornamental Allium for Adaptation to Kagoshima Conditions

Abstract

The vegetative and reproductive performances of Allium aflatunense 'Purple Sensation', A. albopilosum, A. cowanii, A. elatum, A. giganteum, A. moly, A. neapolitanum, A. oreophilum var. ostrowskianum, A. roseum and A. stipitatum were evaluated in Kagoshima, southern Japan, from October 1990 to May 1991. A. cowanii, A. neapolitanum and A. roseum emerged during autumn, whereas the rest emerged in the spring. A. datum, A. oreophilum var. ostrowskianum and A. stipitatum failed to flower. Sexual reproduction through selling or interspecific crossing failed to produce normal mature seed. Except for A. cowanii, A. giganteum, A. neapolitanum and A. roseum, marked physiological dysfunction in the rest of the species was indicated by the much reduced bulb weights at harvest as compared to the mother bulb weights. With A. albopilosum and A. giganteum, planting large bulbs or cloves was correlated with later emergence and much later flowering in addition to slight increases in number and weight of harvested bulbs.