Morphological and agronomical characteristics in interspecific hybrid plants between rakkyo (Allium chinense) and other edible Allium species

Abstract

Some characteristics of interspecific hybrid plants between Allium chinense and some other edible Allium species were surveyed. Interspecific hybrid plants between Allium chinense and A. fistulosum, were similar to A. chinense in morphological appearance. All the hybrid plants formed white-colored bulbs similar to those in A. chinense. Bulb weight varied widely, ranging from 1.6 g to 49.0 g with an average value of 15.8 g. The average weight of the hybrid(15.8 g) was much greater than that of A. chinense (8.1 g). The average value of total bulb weight per hybrid plant was 104.3 g, again significantly higher than 68.9 g in A. chinense. Multiplication in the hybrid plants also ranged widely from 1.5 to 21.5, and the average value of 6.6 in hybrid plants was intermediate between both parents. Flowering time in the hybrid plants was June to August, which was intermediate between both parents. The characteristic of dormancy, inherited from A. chinense was found in 1/3 of the hybrids. In the cross of A. chinense and A. tuberosum, only one hybrid plant was obtained. Its growth was poor and its leaf blades were thinner and shorter than those in both parents. White bulbs much smaller than those in A. chinense, were formed in the hybrid plant. It was not dormant in summer like A. tuberosum. Hybrid plants obtained from the cross of A. chinense and A. cepa were intermediate between both parents in morphological appearance. The average value in multiplication and bulb weight per hybrid plant was much greater than that in both parents. All the hybrid plants had pale red bulb color from A. cepa. Flowering time in the hybrid plants was intermediate between both parents. Hybrid plants from the cross of A. chinense and A. ampeloprasum were intermediate between both parents. Several large white bulbs with many small bulblets were observed in the hybrid plants. The average value in multiplication and bulb weight per plant in the hybrid plants was greater than that in both parents. Flowering time in the hybrid plants was intermediate between both parents and they were dormant in summer.