Diploid female gametes induced by colchicine in Oriental lilies

The young flower buds of diploid Oriental cultivars: ‘Con. Amore’ and ‘Acapulco’ (Lilium) were treated with 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2% colchicine to induce diploid egg (female gamete). The treated young buds between the two cultivars were crossed reciprocally as female parents with normal pollen respectively. The polyploid plants were identified by measuring stoma size and chromosome number. The results showed: that triploid progenies could be obtained through this way, and the fact that the treated young flower buds were successfully used as female parents indicated the formation of 2n or 2x egg cells. The above results implied that polyploidization by artificially induced diploid female gametes could be a powerful method to create novel variations in the breeding of Oriental lilies.