Feasibility of keeping F, interspecific sunflower hybrids

Abstract

Helianthus genus comprises 14 annual and 37 perennial species. Perennial species reproduce vegetatively (rhizomes, tubers) so that it is relatively easy to maintain them in ex situ collections in the field. Hybrid plants between perennial species and cultivated sunflower keep the ability of vegetative reproduction in F, generation. Feasibility of maintaining and using F, interspecific hybrids was investigated in the collection of wild sunflower species in Novi Sad. Three to five F, plants per hybrid combination obtained from crosses between cultivated sunflower lines and perennial species H. divericarus, H. decapetalus, H. hirsutus, H. laevigatus, H. strumosus, H. eggerttii, H. resinosus, H. rigidus, H. tuberosus and H. salicifolius were transferred to the collection of wild sunflower species. Interspecific hybrids were obtained using conventional crossing method in the period from 1987 to 2005 and are grown in a quarantine field under the same conditions as wild perennial sunflower species. Hybrid nature and genotype-clone stability was verified by morphological observations, male fertility occurrence monitoring and analysis of meiosis and pollen viability.