HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN HABENARIA RHODOCHEILA AND H. XANTHOCHEILA AND INHERITANCE OF FLOWER COLOR

Inheritance of flower color in Habenaria was investigated by reciprocal hybridization between H. Rhodocheila Hance, pink color, and H. xanthocheila Ridl, yellow color. The hybridization resulted in nearly 100% seed capsule setting. In 2011 and 2012, 25 and 28 seed capsules were obtained, respectively. In vitro seed culture in aseptic conditions showed that about 50% of seed capsules raised hybrids and reciprocal hybrids. Finally in total respectively 109 and 122 plants were obtained. In 2014 flowers were observed from approximately 25% of the hybrid plants and most exhibited pale orange tone. The preliminary results from flower color of the hybrids indicated that maternal effects were ineffective and an incomplete dominant genetic suppression was expressed.