BREEDING FOXGLOVE (DIGITALIS SP.) FOR ORNAMENTAL AND/OR MEDICAL PURPOSES

Abstract

Complete diallel crosses were performed, in 2000, involving four foxglove cultivars. Parents and F1 hybrids were grown in two locations and, based on results obtained, heritability (both in wide and narrow sense) as well as the phenotypic and genotypic correlations among the studied characters were estimated. Values of the general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) were also computed. There have been noted quite a few traits with a high heritability in wide sense (H = 0.70-0.98). In very few instances the high values of wide sense heritability have been accompanied by appreciable values of narrow sense heritability. Additive effects of polygenes, emphasized by high GCA values in several characters, suggest that, in foxglove, for most of the these characters, there might be found distinct groups of polygenes with positive effects and other groups of polygenes with negative ones. SCA showed significant values for most of plant and flower characters under study which could be a proof that, in foxglove, there are fair chances to develop commercial hybrids with an obvious heterosis in the expected direction (negative or positive). Commercial hybrids could be the conventional breeding solution to developing foxglove cultivars exhibiting both high ornamental and medical value.