Abstract:

There are relatively few green chrysanthemum varieties and limited studies on breeding and genetic mechanisms. In this study 453 progeny of the cross between Chrysanthemum × morifolium‘Lüdingdang’（female,flat type and green）and C. vestitum（male,flat type and white） were used to investigate the heterosis and mixed major genes plus polygenes inheritance models for h value,a ^* value, the number of the ray florets,and flower head diameter. The results are as follows,(1) continuous variations were observed in these traits. Among these traits,all of them had very significant mid-parent heterosis,and h value and flower head diameter had very significant super-parent heterosis. (2) The h and a ^* values and number of ray florets in the above 453 progeny（a pseudo-testcross F₂）were found to be controlled by two additive-dominant-epistatic major genes,with the heritabilities of 38.74%,90.34%,and 76.20%,respectively,while the diameter of flower head was found to be controlled by one additive-dominant major gene,with the heritability of 41.20%. In addition,most progeny have flat petals,which are consistent with their parents,although a few progeny individuals have tube petals and spoon petals. The above a^* value was found to be significantly correlated with the h value,the number of ray florets,and the flower head diameter. The above findings show the high heritability of the above a ^* value.

Key words: Chrysanthemum × morifolium, Chrysanthemum vestitum, green flower, flower head traits, heterosis, quantitative traits, mixed major genes plus polygenes inheritance