Abstract

Cooperative research projects between the University of Connecticut in the United States of America and the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile and the Universidad de Talca in Chile on the breeding, propagation, physiology, micropropagation and production of flowering geophytes from Chile have been ongoing for several years. During the past 15 years, various interspecific and intraspecific hybrids of Alstroemeria species including A. pelegrina, A. pelegrina alba, A. aurea, A. werdermanii, A. kingii, A. magnifica and others have been bred using a combination of traditional and biotechnological techniques. In vitro techniques that have been used include micropropagation, somaclonal variation, and embryo culture. This research has allowed the introduction of several cultivars including the world's only fragrant Alstroemeria cultivar, 'Sweet Lauran. Other species which are being bred and studied include Conanthera bifolia, Conanthera campanulata, Conanthera trimaculata, several Rhodophiala spp., Zephyra elegans, Leontochir ovallei, Pasithea coeruela, Herbertia lahue and others. A micropropagation project evaluating genotypic differences with Leucocoryne coquimbensis, L. coquimbensis alba, L. purpurea, L. ixioides and hybrids is ongoing. These unique Chilean species, plus others, have tremendous potential and value for breeding and development. They are being studied for their potential to be utilized as fresh cut flowers, potted crops, and as garden plants.