Phylogenetic background of Orange lily (Lilium bulbiferum s.l.) cultivars from a genetically isolated environment

Abstract

Domesticated Orange lily ( LILIUM BULBIFERUM s.l.) cultivars do not typically produce seeds, and Orange lily is not native to Finland. Therefore, back crossing of the cultivars with wild species has not been possible. Genetic variability and genuineness of eight Finnish traditionally-grown Orange lily cultivars was studied. RAPD patterns were compared between the cultivars and genuine Orange lily ( LILIUM BULBIFERUM L.), and a related Dauricum group. The results showed partition of tested genotypes into four groups, L. CANADENSE as the outgroup. The cultivars were divided into two subgroups where the trait to form bulbils was characteristic to subgroup I. The cultivated strains differed from each other as much as from the seedling strains, but were genetically closer to genuine Orange lily than the Dauricum group. This indicates that the cultivars are genuine forms of Orange lily species. The special morphological features of the cultivars have likely been formed during centuries-long genetic isolation from natural populations.