Production of diploid and triploid interspecific hybrids between Lilium concolor and L. longiflorum by in vitro ovary slice culture

Successful hybridization between Lilium concolor and Lilium longiflorum has not been reported but ovary slice culture technique, after cut-style pollination has now been used to produce diploid and triploid interspecific hybrids between these species. Reciprocal crosses between diploid cultivars (2n= 2x= 24) were conducted. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 days after pollination (DAP), ovaries were sliced and cultured on a modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium without growth regulators and NH₄NO₃, supplemented with 6% sucrose, 50 mg/1 yeast extract and 0.25% gelrite at pH 6.3. For the L. concolor × L. longiflorum cross, embryo germination was found to be best at 20 DAP, while for the L. longiflorum × L. concolor at 25 DAP. After transfer to a MS (half-strength) medium supplemented with 1.5% sucrose, 0.25% gelrite and 0.2% active charcoal at pH 5.8, diploid and triploid hybrid plants were developed. All regenerated plants were identified as hybrids on the basis of karyotype and isozyme analyses. Ovary slice culture technique as a method of producing polyploids is discussed.