Interspecific hybridization in glory lily

Wide hybridization enables the interspecific gene transfer, which may lead to the additional source of variation for the desirable characters. The present study was carried out to study the crossability relationship of Gloriosa superba with G. rothschildiana. Five genotypes of G. superba were crossed with G. rothschildiana in both directions. The varying percentage of pod set was observed with a pod growth of 2.00 cm length within 25 days of pollination and there after shrinked and died irrespective of the cross combination. None of the pod reached the harvestable stage. Post fertilization barrier was observed in both direct and reciprocal crosses. This may be due to embryos abortion and degeneration during embryogenesis.