Abstract
The mitotic spindle inhibitor colchicine was used to convert diploid Lavandula xintermedia 'Grosso' and 'Seal' (lavandins), grown for essential oil production, to tetraploids. Lavandins are infertile hybrids of L. angustifolia (lavender) and L. latifolia (spike lavender) and colchicine treatment of both in vitro grown and conventionally propagated material restored fertility. Seeds obtained from fertile lavandins produced larger plants with larger floral spikes and enhanced yield of essential oil, relative to the parental cultivars. The plants demonstrated hybrid vigour and measurements of nuclear DNA content, by flow cytometry, suggest that these are likely to be triploid hybrids themselves, resulting from cross-fertilisation of the initial tetraploids by diploid L. angustifolia.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 78-84 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Combined Proceedings International Plant Propagators Society |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 2008 |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |