Interspecific hybrids between onion and garlic

Interspecific hybrids between onion and garlic

Hanelt, P. Book author
Hammer, K. Book author
Knupffer, H. Book author

Gatersleben Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Germany

1992

p.233-239

SB339.A4H3

Interspecific hybrids between onion (Allium cepa) and garlic (Allium sativum) have been obtained from the ovule and embryo cultures of pollinated onions. Thirty thousands ovules were excised from onion flowers two to three days after cross-pollination and cultured to be developed into embryos. Fifty embryos were further cultured to form plantlets, and eighteen plants were finally obtained. The plants developed had natures partly of onion and partly of garlic and formed a bulb which was apparently like an onion. The hybridity of the plants was proved by morphological observation, by isozyme profiles using esterase activities, by chromosome analysis and by southern blotting analysis using rDNA as probe. The hybrids produced not only S-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide, which is the major flavor precursor in onion, but also S-allyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (alliin) characteristic of garlic. [AS]

The genus Allium - taxonomic problems and genetic resources; Proceedings of

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