Inheritance of morphological and chemical characters in interspecific hybrids between Papaver bracteatum and Papaver pseudo-orientale

The alkaloid profiles and morphological traits of the capsules of Papaver bracteatum, P. pseudo-orientale, and their hybrids were studied. Dominance of the hexaploid parent P. pseudo-orientale was observed for various characters. A genetic model assuming allelic additive effects and polysomic inheritance was elaborated for the control of isothebaine content in the capsules. The distribution of thebaine content in the segregating generations, F2 and BCF1 was evidence of the transfer of genes from the diploid parent P. bracteatum in the gametes of the interspecific hybrid and their expression in its progenies. These findings indicate the potential use of inter-specific hybrids between the Oxytona species in the breeding of cultivars for industrial or ornamental purposes.

Accumulation and Distribution of Thebaine in the Roots of Papaver bracteatum During Plant Development

The thebaine-yield components in the roots of PAPAVER BRACTEATUM were studied at various stages of plant development. The maximum concentration of thebaine was obtained at the start of flowering. However the dry weight of the roots and the thebaine yield increased until full flowering. Significant differences in the thebaine and dry matter distribution between various parts of the roots were found; the lower part had a higher concentration of the alkaloid than the upper ones. The high thebaine yield (2.5 g/m (2)) obtained during the first growing season is most promising for the exploitation of the roots as raw material for thebaine production.

Phylogenetic studies in Papaver section Oxytona: cytogenetics of the species and interspecific hybrids

Chromosome behaviour at meiosis was studied in the F1, F2, and backcross generations, in the three species of Papaver section Oxytona, and in artificially induced autopolyploids of P. bracteatum. Close homology was found between the genome of P. bracteatum and that of the two polyploid species, P. orientale and P. pseudo-orientale, suggesting that the P. bracteatum genome is present in both polyploid species. A genetic mechanism controlling bivalent pairing in the polyploid species is suggested. Further study is needed for finding out the breeding potential of interspecific hybridization in section Oxytona.