A report of triploid Populus of the section Aigeiros

Abstract

This screening study analyzed ploidy levels by counting the chromosome number of 61 Aigeiros cultivars grown in China. Triploid Aigeiros has been found in four of these cultivars: Populus x euramericana (Dode) Guiner cv. Wuhei-1, P. x Liaohenica, P. Langfangensis-3 Wang (P. deltodide Barry cv. "Shanhaiguan" x P. simonii x P. pyramidalis-12 + Ulmus pumila Linn.), and P. x euramericana (Dode) Guinier. cv. "Zhonglin-46". The karyotype analysis indicates that triploid Aigeiros might be derived from original allotriploid. Because growth of the triploid trees was faster than their respective diploid hybrids or clones in the plantations where we collected the materials, we expect that they will play a significant role in breeding, reforestation and fiber production in China.