Overcoming Pre-Fertilization Barriers in Intertribal Crosses between Anemone coronaria L. and Ranunculus asiaticus L.

Hybridization in flowering plants depends, the first place, on delivery of pollen to a receptive stigma and subsequent growth tubes through style ovary, where sperm nucleus grain can ultimately fertilize egg cell. However, reproductive failure is often observed distant crosses caused by pre- and/or post-zygotic barriers. In this study, pre-fertilization barriers intertribal between Anemone coronaria L. Ranunculus asiaticus L., both belonging Ranunculaceae, were investigated. Despite incongruity A. R. having been low intensity at stigmatic level, interstylar obstructions tube occurred, which confirmed presence We show that these could be partially bypassed combining pollination with treatment. More specifically, significantly higher ratio length total better seed set when was treated auxin 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 1 mg·mL−1) together cytokinin kinetin (KIN, 0.5 24 h after pollination, irrespective cross direction. treatments any form (combined or not combined cytokinin) resulted full set, assuming an apomictic fruit because no needed obtain seeds.