Reciprocal Crossing and Morphological Variability of Interspecific [Lilium xformolongi] x L. rubellum and [L. xformolongi] x L. martagon Hybrids.

Abstract

In 2007-2008 a UROP project by Ms. Ellinor Opits began in Dr. Neil O. Anderson’s laboratory. Her research was beneficial to further work being conducted by Dr. Anderson to obtain a lily that does not require vernalization, flowers continuously, and produces colored flowers. Vernalization is a wet, cold treatment requirement of most lily species In order to flower . Lilium xformolongi is a hybrid lily species between L. formosanum and L. longiflorum. L. xformolongi is unique because it does not require vernalization, it flowers continuously, and flowers in less than 1 year from sowing . A lily with the same traits as L. xformolongi but with colored flowers would be more marketable than L. xformolongi which only produces white flowers. By crossing L. xformolongi with other species of lily, such as L. martagon (which is a more closely related species to L. xformolongi then L. martagon) and L. rubellum, the goal of obtaining lilies that don’t require vernalization, flower continuously, and produce colored flowers may be reached . Currently I am performing reciprocal crosses between the aforementioned lily species as well as collecting morphological data on a number of hybrid plants.