Abstract:

Bambusa multiplex (Gramineae, Bambusoideae) is a sympodial bamboo species with relatively strong cold-resistance and good fibre quality. In this paper we studied its flowering characteristics and cross breeding. The results showed that B. multiplex was a favorable parental line with long florescence, strong stigma and pollen vigor. A cross between B. multiplex and Dendrocalamus latiflorus was conducted and 10 putative hybrids were selected by morphological characteristics in comparison with the maternal selfed progenies. Those 10 putative hybrids at four months old exhibited middle values in leaf length, leaf width, leaf length/width, diameter, shoot number, leaf shape, leaf veins, height of leaf sheath, cilia in leaf sheath, leaf auricle, leaf ligule, etc between the paternal and maternal selfed progenies. There were 21.97％-28.10％ paternal specific loci expressed in the 10 hybrids exposed by AFLP markers. Clustering analysis showed that the 10 hybrids were clustered together firstly and then grouped with their paternal and maternal parents. Most hybrids exhibited vigorous growth performance and cilia in culm sheath of each clone showed great difference at fifteen months old.

Key words: Bambusa multiplex, flowering biology, crossing, Dendrocalamus latiflorus