Interspecific hybridization of Gossypium arboreum and G. hirsutum with wild species using ovule culture

VIJAIPAL BHADANA¹ and V.K. KHANNA²

¹Division of Pl. Breeding,

ICAR Res. Complex for NEH Region,

Manipur Centre, Lamphelpat, Imphal - 795004

²Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding,

College of Agriculture,

G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology,

Pantnagar- 263145 (U. S. Nagar, Uttarakhand)

ABSTRACT

The plant materials used in the present investigation comprised of four Indian varieties, two each of allotetraploid cotton Gossypium hirsutum (2n=52) i.e. Vikas and LH-900 and diploid cotton Gossypium arboreum i.e. Lohit and BD-5 and three wild species of cotton i.e. Gossypium australe, Gossypium bickii and Gossypium sturtianum. The broad objectives were to get interspecific hybrid production via in vitro fertilization followed by in ovulo embryo culture and to confirm hybridity by isozymes. The effect of smearing stigmas with modified Taylor’s (1972) medium was found to be significant in in vitro fertilization as it enhanced the frequency of hybrid embryos. Hybrid plants were obtained between Lohit x G. australe and BD-5 x G. australe crosses. The hybrids showed vigorous growth. They showed more similarities with the female parents in leaf shape and size, though flower characters were observed to be more close to the male parent (G. australe). Hybrids were completely sterile.