The Russian Research Institute of Floriculture and Subtropical Crops has the citrus germplasm collection, in total over 150 genotypes of various origins including 30 wild and semi-wild relatives. As a result of controlled hybridization in 17 crossings combinations of with the participation of relatives of citrus plants, new 769 hybrid offspring were obtained, which combine the traits of both the maternal and paternal genotypes. Analyzing the populations, promising combinations were highlighted: C. reticulata × Fortunella margarita (47.1%); C. x natsudaidai × 3252 (42.1%) and C. reticulata × C. reticulata ‘Cleopatra’ (40.9%) to create the gene pool of distant hybrids. From the mentioned combinations of crossings the greatest percent of seedlings which phenotypes tend to cultivated varieties was received. This hybrid material is a valuable source for isolating forms that are resistant to extreme environmental factors. According to phenotypic characteristics, hybrids were divided into three categories: I – Cultural, II – Semi-wild and III – Wild. Of the first category, the largest number 87 prospective forms were selected, and can be of interest for further breeding. As a result of the study of interspecific hybrid seedlings, 137 promising forms have been identified, which are carriers the complex traits such as dwarfism, thornless, early maturity and increased winter hardiness. From this set 17 genotypes were selected, which received the status of an elite forms, which successfully pass the primary test, and will be also useful in further breeding work for creating sources with a complex of positive traits and on breeding new varieties of citrus crops resistant to growing conditions.
Reversals in complex traits uncovered as reticulation events: Lessons from the evolution of parity‐mode, chromosome morphology, and maternal resource transfer
