Possible intergeneric hybridization between Cancrinia maximowiczii C. Winkl. and Chrysanthemum naktongense (Nakai) Tzvel. × C. ×morifolium Ramat. ‘Aifen’

Two possible intergeneric putative hybrids between Cancrinia maximowiczii and an interspecific hybrid ( Chrysanthemum naktongense × Chrysanthemum × morifolium ‘Aifen’) were produced without emasculation. The putative hybrids could be identified by ITS sequences and morphological characteristics. The distinct trait of the putative hybrids presented itself by 7–13 white tubular florets bursting out in the outer capitula. Results of flow cytometry analysis and chromosome counting did not support the nature of the putative hybrids. It was found that the ploidy levels of the putative hybrids and parents are diploid, hexaploid and diploid respectively. Whether the paternal parent is a donor of the genome or not, need to be analyzed further by GISH. We propose that C. maximowiczii may be transferred to the subtribe Artemisiinae based on ITS phylogenetic analysis, although the position of the species and the genus Cancrinia could not be confirmed here.