I N T E R S P E C I F I C H Y B R I D S I N S O L A N U M

I. Solarium indicum Linn. and Solarium incanum Linn.

BY USHA ZUTSHI (Regional Reaearch Laboratory, Jammu)

Received July 22, 1966

(Communicated by Dr. E. K. Janaki Ammal, r.A.sc.)

Solanum indicum and Solanum incanum are common wild non-tuberous species found in many parts of India. Two varieties of Solanum indicum have been introduced at the Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu, one (var. multi- florum) from the Nilgiris and the other from Kerala (Shoranur). Both were found to be diploids (2 n ---- 24). The Kerala plant does well in Jammu while the one from the Nilgiris has a poor stand. Hydribization between Solanum indicum from Kerala and Solanum incanum (Jammu) has been undertaken in order to study the affinities of these species with Solanum melongena with which Solanum incanum hybridizes freely (Zutshi, 1966). Bhaduri (195I) reported incompatibility between S. indicum and S. melongena while fertile hybrids resembling S. incanum were obtained by Janaki Ammal (unpublished). The morphological data of both parents and the hybrid are tabulated in Table I.

FIG. 1. Solanum incanum (female paten0 bearing 1-10 flowers per peduncle. 111

112 USIIA ZUTSHI

F Io. 2. Solanum indicum (female parent) bearing 5-20 flowers per peduncle.

Fio. 3. F1 Hybrid Solanum indieum ×Solanum incanum. Note 5--6 flowers per peduncle.

From Table I it is clear that the hybrid is intermediate in morphological characters as height, number of flowers per peduncle and leaf size. The hybrid is highly sterile and no fruit is formed in spite of the hand pollina- tion resorted to. The pairing is normal at diakinesis and 1st metaphase.

Interspecific Hybrids in Solanum--I 113

Segregation is also regular at anaphase. Cause of the sterility appears to be genic in nature and not cytological.

TABLE I

SI. No. Characters Solanum indicum Hybrid Solanum incanum o ~

1 Height of plant

2 Size of leaf (L/B average)

3 No. of flowers per peduncle

4 Corolla

110 cm. 75 cm. 150 cm.

6.4cm./3.i cm. 5.9/4.4cm. 7.5/5.4cm.

5-10 5-6 1-2

Dark purple Light purple Light purple • 8-1.3 cm. 1-6--2.5 cm. 1.4-2-3 cm.

5 Pollen fertility 84.5% 15" 7% 87.7%

6 Fruit formation Fruits formed Nil Fruits formed throughout the throughout the year year

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to thank Dr. E. K. Janaki Ammal under whose guidance this vork was carried out. My thanks are also due to Dr. Ganapathi, Director, ~egional Research Laboratory, Jammu, for providing me with facilities for

work.

R~EERENCES

1. Bhaduri, P. N.

2. Zutshi, U.

o . Indian Jr. of Genet. and Pt. Breeding, 1951, 2, 75.

A note on transference of solasodine from Solanum incanum to Solanum melongena," Curt. ScL 1966, 35, No. 17, 439.