Evaluating features of cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum Mill.) progenies resulted from cross pollination

Variety creation in ornamental plants is always considered by the breeders. To achieve this goal, controlled crosses were performed among various cyclamen genotypes with different flower color, shape and leaf pattern. The results showed that crossing is effective for creating varieties with new flower characteristics in cyclamen. 15 genotypes with different flower color and shape were obtained, but white leaf patterns in more progenies were similar to the feature of their parents. In comparison to self-pollination, cross-pollination had a great influence in increasing growth rate and also in reducing required time for flowering. In general, progenies resulted from crossing compared to those from self-pollination, flowered two months earlier. Mean flower number in these progenies was averagely 1.7 times higher than that of their parents. In terms of growth rate, the progenies from cross-pollination had either more or less growth rather than parents. In conclusion, it is of worth to consider cross pollination as an effective way to create varieties with high growth rate and proper floral view in cyclamen.