Viewing post #698068 by Joebass

You are viewing a single post made by Joebass in the thread called Hybrid Lilies from seed, so confused!.
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Sep 12, 2014 9:44 PM CST
Name: Joe
Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Lilies Region: New York Seed Starter Plant and/or Seed Trader Garden Ideas: Level 1
Keith, here's a little more knowledge for you that might help future endeavors. Generally but not always most species lilies have diploid chromosomes.
Also known as 2n. That means there are one set from the pod parent and one from the pollen parent. Most species are diploids and a lot of the earlier hybrids are as well. Now some lilies are converted to a tetraploid chromosome count. Aka 4n. That means that there are two sets of chromosomes from each parent per cell. This results in a slightly larger and more robust plant in many cases. Tetraploidy status also can represent a heightened level of fertility in some cases. Now there is also triploid lilies as well. Aka 3n. That is where the lily has two sets of chromosomes from one parent and only one from another. This sometimes happens in wide crosses of lilies for reasons that I can't explain. These lilies are mostly pollen sterile but potentially pod fertile with 4n pollen. That is why it's good to know your ploidy count on lilies that you may want to cross.

I saw a chart last year that stated likely outcomes for breeding by ploidy. I will try to recollect it by memory. Remember always start with the pod parent.

2n x 2n = 2n offspring (good success)
2n x 3n = no offspring
2n x 4n = some 2n, 4n and mostly 3n offspring (moderate success)

3n x 2n = no success
3n x 3n = no success
3n x 4n = some 3n and 4n (low success)

4n x 2n = mostly 3n (moderate)
4n x 3n = no success
4n x 4n = 4n (moderate success)

Last but not least 'tiger babies' and L. Lancifolium are both believed to be triploid or 3n, meaning that your best bet to get any seeds would be to pollinate those 3n's with tetra pollen as others have also said.

I hope that is not too much for you to chew on Keith.

Anyone feel free to correct anything I may have stated incorrectly.

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