Nucleotype remodeling in interspecific hybridization of Lycoris aurea Herb. and Lycoris radiata Herb.

Lycoris species are characterized by polymorphic karyotypes. It was found that pistil receptivity of L. aurea allows crossing with several related species, however, some incongruity with nine tested genera was found. This is based on events occurring pre fertilization, post fertilization and at seed formation. Both yellow L. aurea and red L. radiata are divergent as 2n = 14 (8V + 6I) and 22 (22I) respectively. The nucleotype of an interspecific hybrid was examined and found to be 2n = 18 = 4V + 14I. This plant was designated as Lycoris x Aureadiata. It possesses intermediate characteristics of leaf, scape and bulb size. The desirable floret color was a creamy white tinted with light red at the neck. They were assessed to be of medium fertility with a pollen viability of 67%. Two types of backcross progeny were identified: 2n = 16 = 8V + 8I and 2n = 14 = 8V + 6I. The functional gamete karyotypes of Aureadiata are traced to n = 9 = 4V = 5I and n 7 = 4V = 3I. It is suggested that the fertile dikaryotype Aureadita could serve as a bridge for remodeling the nucleotype and for creating a wide spectrum of variability for future selection.