THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERSPECIFIC CARNATION HYBRIDS

Carnation production is on the increase all over the world and there is a real threat of overproduction. As a result, carnation growers in Europe may find themselves in a difficult position.

Carnation breeding may provide possibilities for survival through:

• a qualitatively better product
• improved productivity, more rapid flowering, better yield distribution
• adaptation to planned production with short-term, single-harvest cropping cycles.
• new, very different forms of Dianthus to improve diversity and stimulate demand

Interspecific carnation hybrids can be a good source of genetic characters with which to reach these aims. There is still a long way to go, but recent research results are promising.