Plant Characteristics and Chromosome Numbers of Four Reciprocal Crosses in Dendrobium

Abstract

Progenies of four sets of reciprocal crosses in Dendrobium were compared. Reciprocal matings of amphidiploid D. Jaquelyn Thomas did not differ in floral characteristics. In reciprocal crosses of D. strebloceras and D. canaliculatum, offspring with D. canaliculatum cytoplasm produced more pseudobulbs and were taller in the greenhouse. In a reciprocal cross of two D. canaliculaturn accessions, offspring with ’D17 3 - 2' cytoplasm, were taller, produced more pseudobulbs, and had higher yields. All offspring were diploids with 2n = 38. Cytoplasmic inheritance may be the cause of the differences. Reciprocal crosses of D. schulleri x D. Sunset differed in flower quality and in chromosome numbers. Two offspring of D. schulleri x D. Sunset were triploid with 2n = ca. 57. Ten offspring of D. Sunset x D. schulleri were diploids with 2n = ca. 38.