Cytological and Molecular Characterization of Intertribal Hybrids between the Geophytes Anemone coronaria L. and Ranunculus asiaticus L. (Ranunculaceae)

Anemone coronaria L. and Ranunculus asiaticus L. both belong to the Ranunculaceae, a large plant family with many ornamentals of horticultural importance. There are considerable differences between these species leaves, flower morphology and flower colour therefore intergeneric crosses between the species might result in new interesting hybrids. Crosses between Anemone coronaria L. and Ranunculus asiaticus L. were performed and the F1 progeny was examined. In this study, the F1 hybrid generation was investigated at morphological, molecular and cytogenetic levels. More than 85% of the F1 plants had very similar flowers to the maternal plants and although seeming to have a limited paternal contribution, AFLP analyses confirmed the partial hybrid character of the F1 plants. GISH experiments revealed that the F1 plants were mixoploids (plants composed of cells with different chromosome numbers) or showed many chromosome rearrangements. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________