1983] AROIDEANA 99
Breeding Guidelines in the Genus Aglaonema
R. J. Henny, University. of Florida, IFAS
Agricultural Research Center - Apopka
Route 3, Box 580, Apopka, Florida 32703
Aglaonemas are an important The Aglaonema inflorescence is
group of foliage plants because they made up of a spadix and a spathe. The
withstand interior growing conditions spadix consists of an upright central
better than many other plants. Com- axis covered with several minute
mercial cultivars of Aglaonema petalless flowers. Staminate (male)
generally have green, bluish-green or flowers cover the upper half of the
grey foliage which may be marked spadix and pistillate (female) flowers
with lighter grey or silver patterns. are located on the basal half. Female
Petioles may be green, mottled green flowers consist of a stigma, style and
and ivory, or ivory colored. Aglaonema ovary, while the male flowers are
commutatum Tricolor' (A. maran- made up of the anther and filament
tifolium Tricolor') is a well known ex- and produce pollen. Pollination in-
ception with its bright pink petioles. volves transfer of pollen from selected
In general, aglaonemas are con- male flowers to stigmas of selected
sidered to be relatively slow growing female flowers.
and small to moderate in size. The spathe covers the spadix until
Some of the objectives of the plant anthesis (the day of flower opening) at
breeding program at the Agricultural which time it unfurls and exposes the
Research Center-Apopka include male portion of the spadix. Whenever
development of new Aglaonema col- possible the inflorescence should be
ors. Several important Aglaonema pollinated the same day as the spathe
hybrids have been developed by unfurls. Usually the spathe unfurls
nurserymen and hobbyists previously, during the night, so flowering plants
including 'Silver King', 'Silver Queen', should be checked each morning for
'Fransher', 'Parrot Jungle', 'Manila' newly opened inflorescences; subse-
and 'Abidjan'. The purpose of this quent pollination may be made at any
report is to describe the techniques of time during the day of anthesis.
Aglaonema hybridization at ARC- It is desirable to use freshly col-
Apopka and hopefully encourage lected pollen for use in pollination; in-
other people to attempt crosses on dications are that Aglaonema pollen
their own. A list of aglaonemas useful will survive only a few days in storage,
for breeding is also included (Table 1). even if held in a refrigerator.
Aglaonema stock plants are grown When making a pollination, a
in a medium consisting of 2 parts camel hair brush may be used to pick
Florida peat moss, 1 part cypress up pollen and transfer it to the
shavings and 1 part pine bark by stigmatic surface of female flowers.
volume. This basic medium is amend- The brush will pick up pollen easier if
ed with 7 Ibs. dolomite, 3 Ibs Perk® it is first brushed lightly across the
and 10 Ibs Osmocote® (19-6-12) per moist, sticky surface of the stigma.
cubic yard. They are grown either in The stigmatic surfaces of the female
greenhouses or slat sheds with light flowers may be identified by their
intensities of 800-1500 foot-candles golden yellow color. Following
and temperatures ranging from transfer of the pollen we routinely
65-95 OF. Under these conditions, wrap the entire inflorescence with a
Aglaonema tend to flower from April wet paper towel and enclose it with a
through July. plastic bag to ensure 100% relative
100 AROIDEANA [Vol.5
humidity for 24 hours, after which the high relative humidity around the
cover is removed. This technique is seeds. The trays are placed under
essential to obtain maximum seed set fluorescent lights which are on 12
with Dieffenbachia (1). Data from hours daily in a growth room held at
Aglaonema indicate high humidity 80°F. Any environment which keeps
may not be absolutely essential for the seeds warm and moist and pro-
pollen germination on all cultivars, vides some light should yield ex-
however, we still use this method as a cellent germination. Once the seeds
precautionary measure. have germinated (after 4-8 weeks) and
Following a successful pollination at least one leaf has matured, the
the flowers (now actually fruit) will plastic cover is removed and seed-
begin to enlarge and turn dark green. lings are transferred to the green-
In 4-5 months following pollination, house. When seedlings have produc-
the fruits turn bright red and should ed 4-5 leaves they are transplanted in-
be harvested. The fleshy red seed coat to 4-inch pots containing the same
should be removed soon after harvest medium used for germination. Seed-
and the seed planted before it shows lings are finally repotted into 6-inch
any signs of drying. As an extra pots using our normal 2: 1: 1 medium.
precaution, cleaned seeds can be Aglaonema hybrids display their
soaked in 10% Clorox for 10 minutes mature foliar variegation pattern in
followed by a similar dip in a benomyl the first leaf, which shortens the
solution. Seeds are then placed in waiting period for the determining
small plastic trays in a shallow depres- which hybrids are most interesting.
sion made in a moistened medium Literature Cited
consisting of 1 part peat moss and 1 1.
part perlite, by volume, and amended Henny, R. J. and E. M.
with 3 Ibs dolomite and 1 Ib Perk per Rasmussen, 1980. Producing
cubic yard. Each container is enclos- Dieffenbachia from seed. Aroi-
ed with a plastic bag to maintain the deana 3:94-95.
Table 1. A listing of Aglaonema species and cultivars that may be useful for
breeding.
Species or culivar z Desirable traits for breeding
A. commutatum var. picturatum vigor, foliar color
A. commutatum 'Treubii' vigor, suckering
A. commutatum 'Tricolor' petiole color (pink)
A. costatum foliar color
A. crispum 'Chartreuse Halo' large leaf size, vigor
A. modestum round leaf shape, compact growth
A. rotundum red foliar color, round leaves
A. pictum foliar color, dwarf
A. pictum 'Tricolor' foliar color, dwarf
A. nitidum 'Curtisii' foliar markings (stripes)
A. X 'Manila' foliar color, vigor, suckering
A. X 'Abidjan' foliar color, large size
ZNomenclature based on: Aglaonema Grower's Notebook, by R. N. Jervis, 1980. 64 pp.