Development and Verification of an Interspecific Hybridization Protocol for Asclepias

Milkweed ( Asclepias sp.) is an important pollinator genus across North America and a host plant for many butterfly species, notably the monarch Danaus plexippus ). Commercial production of limited to few because most species lack commercial traits, with minimal branching habit, excessive height, color variation. This study used commercially viable weed tuberosa L.), as maternal parent trialed three different pollination methods in attempt create interspecific hybrids. Pollination included traditional method, pollen–solution-based novel inverted pollinia method. The method increased success rates 4-fold among intraspecific crosses A. . When were optimized, was parent, one-way made seven other using Of pollen donors, four developed hybrid seed successfully: green milkweed hirtella Woodson), purple purpurascens showy speciosa Torr.), common syriaca L.). As germination vary significantly on via hybridizations: direct seeded, cold–moist stratification, embryo rescue. methods, stratification superior seeding research first documented case controlled hybridization event these species.