INTER-SPECIFIC AND INTER-GENERIC HYBRIDIZATION IN SALICACEAE (POPULUS NIGRA × P. DELTOIDES AND P. NIGRA × SALIX ALBA) USING AN EMBRYO RESCUE TECHNIQUE

Tree breeding has been developed new horizon in producing new hybrids which play basic role in supplying wood and help to prevent forest reduction. The main aim of the current project was to investigate inter-specific and inter-generic hybridization in Salicaceae with the target of increasing genetic diversity and to achieve new hybrids suitable for producing woody biomass. This is the successful attempt to perform Inter-specific crossing between Populus nigra×P. deltoides and inter-generic crossing between P. nigra×salix alba. An embryo rescue technique as an efficient method was used on ovaries isolated from unwanted pollens. After pollination, 10 and 14-days-old embryos were transferred to MS and 1/2 MS media containing 30 gr/lit sucrose. In view of the results, inter-specific and inter-generic hybridization in the willow family was possible with these species. The high rate of germination was occurred 14 days after pollination and in the MS medium. This hybridization is accomplished through an in vitro system. These results defined a successful protocol for in vitro breeding of P. nigra×P. deltoides and P. nigra×salix alba.