Temperature effects on interspecific hybridization between Gladiolus xgrandiflora and G-tristis

Interspecific hybridization between a modern cultivar of Gladiolus xgrandif lora hort. (2n = 60) and the wild species G. tristis L. (2n = 30) was made to introduce characteristics of the wild species into the cultivated one. G ladiolus xgrandiflora is a summer-flowering species, and G. tristis flowers in winter. The effect of storage temperature on pollen viability was teste d, as long-term storage of pollen was necessary to facilitate crossing thes e two species. Pollen of G. tristis could he stored st -20 degreesC for app roximate to1 year, and was more practical than storage at -80 degreesC. Air temperature affected pollen tube growth, fertility, and fruit set in the c ross between G. xgrandiflora and G. tristis, and low temperatures (15 to 20 degreesC) were best. The morphological data and flow cytometric analysis s howed that the F-1 plants were hybrids between G. xgrandiflora and G. trist is.