Analysis of plants obtained by embryo rescue from an interspecific Actinidia cross

Abstract The cross Actinidia chinensis Planch. var. chinensis (2x) × A. melanandra Franch. var. melanandra (4x) was made in 1989. Embryos were rescued early in seed development and raised in sterile culture. Plant material from these embryos was treated with colchicine to double the chromosome number and then put through a second shoot regeneration cycle. About 500 plants have been produced representing 25 clones from individual embryos. A sample of these plants has been analysed for chromosome number and for eight morphological characters. Plants with chromosome numbers representing 2x, 3x, 4x and 6x have been found and these numbers are correlated with some morphological characters. The origin of the different ploidy groups is discussed.