Intergeneric crosses with Fragaria and Potentilla. I: Crosses between Fragaria moschata and Potentilla fruticosa

Crosses between Fragaria moschata (2n = 42) and Potentilla fruticosa (2n = 14) produced many seeds; about half of these germinated, but only nine plants were obtained from 554 seedlings. Five plants died without flowering, and four were vigorous but sterile. Four plants had the expected chromosome number (2n = 28), one plant had 21 chromosomes, and four were aneuploid with 23, 24, 25 and 27 chromosomes respectively. Response to growth substances giving elongated stem internodes and swollen but not succulent receptacles provided evidence that two of the plant were hybrids. It is suggested that all nine plants originated from a normal fertilisation which was followed in some cases by chromosome elimination at an early stage of embryo development.