INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDIZATION BETWEEN LATHYRUS-ODORATUS AND L-BELINENSIS

The recent introduction to cultivation of Lathyrus belinensis has enab led experimental crosses to be made with cultivars of the sweet pea L. odoratus. Lathyrus belinensis has flowers with yellow pigmentation, a color missing from cultivars of sweet pea. Chemical analyses revealed that three pigment types, carotenoid, flavonoid, and anthocyanin, are present in L. belinensis, which is easily identified as seedling leav es exhibit a diagnostic red pigment spot and pods are membranous and i ndehiscent. Like L. odoratus, L. belinensis is distinctly scented. A h ybrid was established by means of embryo rescue. Karyotypes of the par ental species are very similar, and meiotic pairing in the hybrid indi cated considerable homology. The hybrid between L. belinensis and the cream-flowered L. odoratus cv Mrs. Collier showed reduced vigor and no vel flower color. A chemical/biochemical rationalization for the obser ved color changes is presented. Light and scanning electron microscopy showed differences in petal surface features and the distribution of pigments within petals.