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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #140574

Title: PETUNIA, PETUNIA X HYBRIDA

Author
item Griesbach, Robert

Submitted to: Kluwer Academic Press
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2002
Publication Date: 6/1/2006
Citation: Griesbach, R.J. 2006. Petunia, Petunia x hybrida. In: Flower Breeding and Genetics, ed. N.O. Anderson, Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands. 301-336 (book chapter).

Interpretive Summary: This review paper will appear as a chapter in a book entitled Flower Breeding and Genetics published by Kluwer Academic Press. Thus chapter describes the garden petunia. The garden petunia is a complex hybrid involving at least two species- P. axillaris and P. integrifolia. The history of petunia improvement is summarized. There has been significant taxonomic confusion as to the correct names of the taxa, as well as the inter-taxa relationships. Even in the recent literature, the same taxon has described under various names. This paper should help clear-up the confusion. Petunia has also been extensively used as a model plant of the study of flower color and tissue culture. Finally, the flower color and tissue culture literature is reviewed and discussed.

Technical Abstract: This review paper will appear as a chapter in a book entitled Flower Breeding and Genetics published by Kluwer Academic Press. Thus chapter describes the garden petunia. The garden petunia is a complex hybrid involving at least two species- P. axillaris and P. integrifolia. the history of petunia improvement is summarized. There has been significant taxonomic confusion as to the correct names of the taxa, as well as the inter-taxa relationships. Even in the recent literature, the same taxon has described under various names. This paper should help clear-up the confusion. Petunia has also been extensively used as a model lant of the study of flower color and tissue culture. Finally, the flower color and tissue culture literature is reveiwed and discussed.