New interspecific hybrids of Fuchsia species L. (Onagraceae)

An extensive hybridization programme between American species and between them and New Zealand one resulted in the production of new hybrids in Fuchsia. A significant first has been the production of yellow flowered hybrid from a cross between F. encliandra and F. procumbens. It combines the plant growth character of F. encliandra and the flower colour of F. procumbens. The procumbent plant growth character has also been transferred in a cross with F. splendens. Many other interesting hybrids have also been produced with interesting variation in floral and vegetative characters. Not all attempted cross combinations were successful in this study and a variety of pre- and post fertilization barriers to hybridization were observed. Once hybrids were produced in the crosses between American species, most of the plants were vigorous unlike most of hybrids produced between New Zealand and American species. An exception amongst the crosses between American species produced sub-viable plants that showed a virus-like syndrome. Overall, this study has shown that in Fuchsia crossability is not necessarily related to chromosome number, ploidy level, taxonomic position, and genome size.