Production and characterization of intergeneric hybrids between turnip (Brassica rapa L. em. Metzg. subsp. rapa) and radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

- Chemical solutions were spreading on stigmas to accelerate fertilization and improve development of ovaries and ovules.
- White petals and male sterility can be used as morphological markers to identify true intergeneric hybrids.
- Twenty-four amphihaploid hybrids were produced from crosses between turnip and radish species.
- Five markers [RSS0015, RSS0173, ENA28(R1), BRMS056(R1), BRMS042(R3)] were polymorphic between hybrids and their parents.

Intergeneric hybridization was performed between Brassica rapa L. em. Metzg. subsp. rapa and Raphanus sativus following tissue culture of hybrid seeds. Twenty-four intergeneric hybrids were produced from crosses between twelve turnip and eight radish species and confirmed to be amphihaploids, with 19 chromosomes in mitosis. All of the hybrids were pollen-sterile, had white petals, and were intermediate in most of their morphological traits with respect to their parents. The hybrids were also confirmed through DNA analyses by using Brassica and Raphanus genome molecular markers. The improvements of these amphihaploids as useful genetic resources and potential of intergeneric hybridization to enrich the gene pool for radish and turnip breeding are discussed.