New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS IN CHIONOCHLOA (GRAMINEAE)

H. E. Connor

Botany Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Christchurch

Abstract Six species of Chionochloa - C. cheesemanii, C. conspicua ssp. cunninghamii, C. flavescens, C. flavicans, C. rigida, and C. rubra - are true-breeding and self-fertile; Si families show no inbreeding depression. Fi and F₂ interspecific hybrids were relatively easily obtained, though no hybrids resulted when C. flavicans was used as female parent. Seed-set on selflng F_: hybrids was variable, seed-set potentials from 5% to 60% being recorded; in most Fi's pollen fertility was of the order of 90%. Hybrids with C. rigida as either male or female parent set more seed than other interspecific combinations. Potential interspecific gene exchange is discussed, particularly where the opportunities were greatly increased during the last thousand years. Contraction of wide ecotones, with the expansion of agriculture, has, in the century of European occupation, reduced the possibilities for some interspecific gene exchange.

(Received for publication 1 September 1966) N.Z. Jl Bot. 5: 3-16

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (689K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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