Novel hybrids with floral scent between Lagerstroemia caudata and three L. indica cultivars

Abstract

L. caudata, native to China, is valued for its floral fragrance while flower size and color still negatively affects their economic value. In this study, three L. indica cultivars ‘Bai Yun Ying Xia’, ‘Qiao Jia Ren’ and ‘Fen Hu Die’ with diverse flower traits were chosen to make cross with L. caudata. Finally, a total of 2832 crosses were obtained, including interspecific, backcross and self-pollination combinations between L. caudata and L. indica. Nearly 260 hybrid seedlings were survived. Hybridity was confirmed by both morphological comparison and simple sequence repeat markers (SSR) technique. All obtained interspecific seedlings were generally intermediate in morphological traits of their parents, but variable in leaf blade length, leaf blade width, leaf blade length/width ratio, flower diameter, flower claw length, petal length, flower color and floral fragrance. Our results suggested that it is possible to optimize floral fragrance of Lagerstroemia cultivars by using L. caudata and the hybrids obtained in this study. These findings could be served as the basis for the development of superior plants with unique combinations of ornamental traits.