Crossability relationships between noble, Manchurian and Caucasian firs

摘要

We used artificial hybridization to study the crossability of the noble fir (Abies procera) with Manchurian fir (A. holophylla) and Caucasian fir (A. nordmanniana), and found compatibility between A. procera of North American origin and the Asian species A. holophylla as evidenced by the 14% fraction of filled seeds obtained in A. procera × A. holophylla crossing. Crossing of A. procera with the Mediterranean species A. nordmanniana failed completely, producing only empty seeds.