A protocol for the in vitro propagation and polyploidization of an interspecific hybrid of Glandularia (G. peruviana × G. scrobiculata)

• An optimized propagation and polyploidization protocol for an interspecific Glandularia hybrid is presented.
• The nutritional requirements for this hybrid were consistent with previous results obtained working with other Glandularia species.
• The results suggest that, at least for the species studied, Glandularia has very specific PGR demands.
• Plants with larger flowers and inflorescences, both features highly valuable in the ornamental market, were obtained.
• Contrary to what was expected, polyploidization did not result in the enlargement of all the organs in the plants for this Glandularia hybrid.
• The tetraploid plants recovered are a valuable and interesting material to include in a Glandularia breeding program.

The genus Glandularia (Verbenaceae) has more than 50 species and it holds great ornamental potential due to its colorful flowers, long flowering period and low water requirements. Since the floriculture market avidly seeks novelties, increasing the diversity within the genus would increase its commercial value. Some of the traits that should be improved in these species are their architecture and the size and colors of the flowers and leaves. In this sense, obtaining polyploid individuals is an interesting strategy to achieve this objective. In this paper a hybrid of Glandularia peruviana × Glandularia scrobiculata was cultured under in vitro conditions. Different plant growth regulators and their combinations were tested to obtain appropriate multiplication rates. The best results were obtained with the combination of 6.6 μM thidiazuron/0.03 μM α-naphthalenacetic acid, with a multiplication rate of 19 shoots per explant. The plantlets were first rooted and then acclimatized by transferal to an 8.0 cm diameter pot containing Growing mix®, and maintenance inside a humidity chamber. For poliploydization, the explants were exposed to colchicine in concentrations of 0.001% and 0.01% for 24 and 48 h. The 40 recovered plants were characterized according to their DNA content. There were 21 diploids, 14 solid tetraploids, 1 solid octoploid, 3 chimera tetraploids and 1 chimera octoploid. Phenotypically, the size of the flowers, inflorescences, pollen grains and stomata were significantly larger in polyploid individuals. Surprisingly, stem diameter, leaf size and color intensity of the leaves and flowers were not significantly different between diploid and tetraploid individuals. Due to the size of the inflorescences, the tetraploid individuals are a promising starting material for a Glandularia breeding program.