Breeding research on rose pigments. II. Combining ability analyses of variance of four flavonoids in F1 populations

Abstract

18 Hybrid Tea-rose varieties were crossed and selfed in an incomplete diallel. In F1 seedlings the relative contents of the flavonoids: pelargonidin, cyanidin, kaempferol and quercetin, were determined by means of paper chromatography. Inheritance of each pigment was mainly controlled by additive gene action. Combining ability analyses of variance of these pigments showed highly significant differences between GCA's of the varieties. The pigment content of parent varieties can be a useful basis for breeding.