GENOME AND KARYOTYPE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE GENUS DENDROBIUM (ORCHIDACEAE). I. CROSSABILITY

A hybridization study was made utilizing 37 species of 10 sections in 41 intra- and intersectional combinations. A total of 721 pollinations was made with 138 fruits harvested; 89 produced viable crosses. Five intrasectional and 20 intersectional combinations resulted in successful hybrids. Among the intrasectional crosses, Phalaenanthe × Phalaenanthe exhibited the highest percentage of fruits and successful crosses while Callista × Callista produced no successful crosses. Eugenanthe × Eugenanthe exhibited low crossability. Among the intersectional crosses, Ceratobium × Phalaenanthe gave the highest percentage of successful crosses, indicating a close relationship between the two groups. Also, there appears to be a fairly close relationship between Latourea and Ceratobium based on crossability. Although the sectional classification of the genus by Schlechter on the basis of vegetative and floral morphology appears to be valid, crossability studies suggest that the Ceratobium and Phalaenanthe sections might be integrated and the Eugenanthe section separated into sections or subsections.