Morphological and Molecular Analyses of Reciprocal Hybrids between ‘Slim Whitman’ and ‘Pinza’, Two Narcissus pseudonarcissus Cultivars

Abstract

Narcissus pseudonarcissus, also known as daffodil, is a world-famous ornamental flower. In this study, for the first time, cross-pollinations between two widely cultivated N. pseudonarcissus varieties ‘Slim Whitman’ and ‘Pinza’ were performed. After eight consecutive years of cultivation, 27 reciprocal hybrids with different genotypes survived; 15 hybrids in ‘Slim Whitman’ × ‘Pinza’ and 12 in ‘Pinza’ × ‘Slim Whitman’. Twenty ornamental and agronomic characters were observed to evaluate the pattern and extent of genetic variability of the hybrids and relatedness with their parents. The hybrids showed great variation in most morphological characters compared with the parents, especially in leaf and flower characters. Hybrids SP03, SP04, SP05, SP12, SP13, PS04, PS06, PS07, PS08, and PS11 had evident growth advantage in some aspects compared with both parents. Of these hybrids, SP04 got novel flowers with white petals and an yellow-orange corona, and had the potential to become a new popular N. pseudonarcissus cultivar. Hybrids SP01, SP03, SP05, PS04, PS06, and PS07 also possessed a great ornamental value. Using cluster analysis based on morphological traits and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers, genetic relationships among the reciprocal cross hybrids and their parents were further analyzed. The 27 reciprocal hybrids and their parents grouped into divergent clusters, showing that there was rich genetic variation among the hybrids tested. This study will pave the way for hybridization breeding programs of N. pseudonarcissus.