THE CHALLENGES OF BREEDING WILD FLOWER CULTIVARS FOR USE IN COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE: AFRICAN PROTEACEAE G.M. Littlejohn ARC Fynbos Private Bag X1 Elsenburg 7607 South Africa
[email protected] Keywords: Protea, Leucadendron, Leucospermum, reproduction biology, interspecific hybridization, domestication, ornamental breeding. Abstract The three economically important genera of African Proteaceae provide the background to discussing the phases marked by the extent of control over the genetic material. Six phases in the domestication process are outlined: wild harvesting, basic domestication, clonal selection, interspecific hybridization, complete domestication and control of single genes. Each of these phases are discussed, briefly outlining the plant material use, the levels of control over the genetic quality of the material, the supporting research required to fully exploit the opportunities within each phase and the advantages and limitations. 1. Introduction Growers often breed ornamental plants, sometimes purely by picking out chance variants, in other cases by systematically breeding for specific traits of interest. Breeding ornamentals is in principle not different from breeding any other crop, but the breeding goals usually vary from edible crops, as characters like flower colour, shape, scent are important for their ornamental value. Many ornamentals are ‘new’ introductions, with a short breeding history, and novelty is an important consideration in selection of ornamental crops (Halevy, 2000). The Proteaceae of Southern Africa provide an interesting floriculture product to use to review the challenges that arise from developing an undomesticated plant into an economically viable, cultivated fresh cut flower. The Proteaceae are a family of woody plants, varying from sprawling shrubs to large trees (Rebelo, 1995).