Advances in the Studies of Breeding Primula
报春花属植物的育种研究进展

The methods and achievements of primula breeding are reviewed. Primula is the largest genera in the Primulaceae, with about 500 species widely distributed in the world. The main methods employed in breeding primulas are intraspecific crossing and polyploid induction. Great achievements have been achieved in flower color, shape and primin-free primulas; several breeding programs in Europe, Japan and United States have contributed numerous primula cultivars and series. Contrary to this situation, China has no cultivars, although approximately 296 wild species are distributed in China. Further work should be undertaken to protect our primula resources, breed new cultivars and realize primula industrialization.