Germplasm resources and breeding of the genus Primula in China

There are about 500 species in genus Primula in the world, of which approximately 300 species distributed in China. Most of them are famous alpine perennials with beautiful flowers and can be cultivated as garden plants and pot flowers. But so far the researches about Primula germplasm resources and breeding in China have rarely been conducted. An investigation of Primula has been made by our research group in Southwest and Northeast of China since 2000 and 68 species including 47 endemic species have been collected. GPS database information of the natural distributing areas has also been established. Introduction and cultivation experiments including seed germination, characteristics of photosynthesis, pollinating and breeding of Primula have also been carried out. Some species such as P. forbesii, P. bulleyana, P. beesiana, P. pulverulenta, P. denticulata ssp. sinodenticulata and P. saxatilis can blossom naturally in Beijing, In order to improve ornamental quality, interspecific hybridization and polyploid induction were carried out with those species and 6,856 hybrids and 94 tetraploid plants have been so far obtained.