Abstract
Increasing exploitation of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) and its products require that commercial varieties with superior attributes are developed to replace landrace varieties and to meet the growing demand for commercial-scale cultivation of the crop. In this study, twenty landrace varieties of roselle collected from three geographical regions of Ghana were artificially crossed in a pairwise mating scheme. The aim was to obtain relevant information pertaining to fertility status and extent of crossability among the accessions to facilitate breeding of improved varieties. Attempts at hybridisation were made both between and among 6 accessions of Hibiscus sabdariffa var Altissima and 14 accessions of Hibiscus sabdariffa var Sabdariffa. Crosses between accessions of Hibiscus sabdariffa var Altissima and Hibiscus sabdariffa var Sabdariffa yielded no hybrids, suggestive of a crossability barrier between the two mating groups. All intra-varietal crosses involving accessions of Hibiscus sabdariffa var Altissima were successful regardless of direction of cross while only few of the crosses among those of Hibiscus sabdariffa var Sabdariffa produced successful hybrids. Also fertility estimates of members of Hibiscus sabdariffa var Altissima were significantly higher (30.00%-80.00%) compared to those of var Sabdariffa (0.00%-43.00%). This implies that complete pairwise design could be used for intra-varietal crosses involving accessions of Hibiscus sabdariffa var Altissima, whereas only a partial pairwise design is feasible for members of Hibiscus sabdariffa var Sabdariffa.
Highlights
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is an important multipurpose crop grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world for its stem fibre, edible calyces, leaves and seeds (Siti et al, 2017)
No hybrids were recorded from inter-varietal crosses between accessions of var Altissima and var Sabdariffa in this study (Table 2)
Hybrids were obtained from intra-varietal crosses among accessions of both Hibiscus sabdariffa var Altissima and Hibiscus sabdariffa var Sabdariffa to varying degrees in different cross combinations
Summary
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is an important multipurpose crop grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world for its stem fibre, edible calyces, leaves and seeds (Siti et al, 2017) It possesses huge potential as a crop of strategic importance for agricultural economies across West Africa due to its diverse uses as food (vegetables, source of oil, refreshing drink), medicine and a source of foreign exchange (fibre and natural colourants). It is rich in essential nutrients, protein and iron whose deficiency is widespread especially among rural communities across the West African sub-region (Zaman et al, 2017; Chun-Tang et al, 2015). Genes for resistance to Yellow leaf mosaic virus infection whose damaging effect is ubiquitous among crops of the malvaceae family is reported to have been found in roselle germplasm (Chatterjee et al, 2005)
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