Eight different genotypes of the F
1 hybrids between Oriental × Asiatic lily (
Lilium) hybrids (2
n = 2
x = 24) were treated with nitrous oxide (N
2O) gas under pressure for 24 and 48 hours. At the time of treatment, all plants possessed early meiotic stages in the anthers
of the oldest flower buds. The mature flowers from treated plants were monitored for fertility through pollen germination
in vitro as well as by using them in crosses with diploid Asiatic hybrids (2
n = 2
x = 24) both as male and female parents. In five out of the eight genotypes of OA hybrids there was evidence for the production
of
2n pollen which germinated
in vitro from either one or both treatments. The
2n pollen from three genotypes was successfully used in crosses. In two cases, the treated plants were successfully used as
female parents which indicated the formation of
2n (or 2x) egg cells. From an analysis of 41 sexual polyploid progenies obtained from N
2O treated plants it was shown that they were all euploids consisting of 34 triploids (2
n = 3
x = 36) and seven tetraploids (2
n = 4
x = 48). A detailed cytological analysis of 12 progeny plants through genomic
in situ hybridization (GISH) proved that N
2O had induced first division restitution gametes in most cases and in two cases they produced gametes through indeterminate
meiotic restitution. There was evidence for intergenomic recombination in three cases.
Key words interspecific hybrids - Genomic in situ hybridization - unreduced gametes - allopolyploid