Production of intergeneric hybrids between Brassica juncea and Diplotaxis virgata through ovary culture, and the cytology and crossability of their progenies

Abstract

The cytogenetic study was investigated in the intergeneric F1 hybrid, F2and backcross progenies (BC1). The plants used were Brassica juncea(2n=36) and Diplotaxis virgata(2n=18). Three intergeneric F1 hybrids between two species were produced through ovary culture. They showed 36 chromosomes. It might consist one genome of B. juncea and two genomes of D. virgata. The morphology of the leaves resembled that of B. juncea. The color of the petals was yellow that was like in D. virgata. The size of the petal was similar to that of B. juncea. The mean pollen fertility was15.3% and the chromosome associations in the first meiotic division were(0–1)IV+(0–2)III+(8–12)II+(12–20)I. Many F2 and BC1seeds were harvested after open pollination and backcross of the F1 hybrids withB. juncea, respectively. The F2seedlings showed different chromosome constitutions and the range was from 28 to54 chromosomes. Most seedlings had 38chromosomes followed by 36, 40 and 54. The BC1 seedlings also showed different chromosome constitutions and the range was from 29 to 62. Most seedlings had both 40and 54 chromosomes followed by 36, 46 and52. In the first meiotic division of F2 and BC1 plants, a high frequency of bivalent associations was observed in all the various kinds of somatic chromosomes. Many F3 and BC2 seeds were obtained by self-pollination and open pollination of both F2 and BC1 plants, and by backcrossing both F2 and BC1plants with B. juncea, respectively,especially, three type progeny with 36, 40or 54 chromosomes. The somatic chromosomes of the F3 and BC2 plants were further investigated. The bridge plants between B. juncea and D. virgata with 36 chromosomes may be utilized for breeding of other Brassica crops as well as B. juncea.