Molecular cytogenetic identification and relationship of the artificial intergeneric hybrid between Dendranthema indica and Crossostephium chinense by GISH

Although most of the hybrid embryos aborted at an early developmental stage, a 2n = 27 true intergeneric hybrid between Dendranthema indica (L.) Des Moul (2n = 36) as ♀ and Crossostephium chinense (L.) Makino (2n = 18) as ♂ was produced following pollination and ovule rescue. The morphology of the resulting adult putative hybrid and the two parents differed significantly from one another in seven of the nine traits measured, the exceptions being leaf width and leaf length, for which the putative hybrid was indistinguishable from the maternal plant. Genomic in situ hybridization experiments were able to successfully distinguish the genomic origin of both mitotic and meiotic metaphase chromosomes in the hybrid. In addition, the 18 D. indica chromosomes were paired as bivalents at meiotic metaphase in the hybrid.