I. Interspecific and Intergeneric Hybridization in Rosaceous Fruit Trees

Cross-(in)compatibility across rosaceous species

Plants have developed reproductive barriers to prevent unwanted crossing with closely related species (interspecific or intergeneric) to maintain species identity. In a quite rare case, new species can evolve by overcoming this reproductive barriers. Insight into interspecific cross-(in)compatibility has agricultural significance and can lead to agriculturally important developments. We are doing characterization of cross-(in)compatibility across rosaceous fruit trees, which includes a large number of economically-important fruit tree species.

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Molecular mechanism controlling reproductive barriers

Our results showed the presence of diverse interspecific and intergeneric cross-(in)compatibility across rosaceous fruit trees. The success of hybridization is likely to be associated not only with genetic distance but also with unknown mechanism. Based on the findings, we aim to elucidate molecular and physiological mechanisms underlining reproductive barriers.

Breeding novel hybrids for horticultural industories

Our final goal in this study is to develop novel hybrids for horticultural industories. Hybridization with different species has a great potential to improve species-specific traits, which are difficult to overcome by intraspecific crossing.