The improvement of amaryllis and hippeastrum depends on various characters from breeders point of view.

To qualify for acceptance a new hybrid clone has to confirm to or surpass some very stringent criteria. To conserve the various characteristics germplasm collection is a major part for improvement.

A. Hybridization

Selection of parents having desirable characters and process of selfing and crossing are necessary for raising the hybrids. There are two methods of production of hybrids. (1) line hybrid method and (2) group hybrid method.

1. Line hybrid method

This method is ideally suited for obtain superior and uniform seedlings which possess hybrid vigour. Inbred lines, are increased and maintained, and the crosses of superior lines are made on large scale.

The heterosis as applied to the line breeding should not only include more vigorous growth but result in large blooming size of bulbs along with flowers size, colour intensity, duration of bloom, etc.

2. Group hybrid method

In this method different hybrid and species are collected and assessed in observation rows. The superior ones are selected from germplasm reservoir. The crosses are made among species and hybrids, and promising ones are selected for garden use. As a result of this method two outstanding hybrid groups namely, Reginae and Leopoldii have been evolved. Pollens mature a number of days before the stigma of the some flower is ready to receive it. Storing of pollen is essential to make crosses.


When the pollens mature, the two lobes of each another burst open. The anther shrinks and the pollen grains are fully exposed on the surface. These may be collected! in test-tube or petridish, the anthers with exposed pollens are very carefully removed from the filaments by means of metal forceps and are placed in a petridish. The pollens from one flower thus collected should carefully be preserved in the closed petridish in a cool, dry, place.



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