© 2009 Science From Israel / LPPLtd., Jerusalem Israel Journal of Plant Sciences Vol. 57 2009 pp. 303–313 DOI: 10.1560/IJPS.57.4.303 E-mail: alan.meerow@ars.usda.gov Tilting at windmills: 20 years of Hippeastrum breeding AlAn W. MEEroW USDA-ARS-SHRS, 13601 Old Cutler Rd., Miami, Forida 33158, USA (Received 3 June 2009; accepted in revised form 26 August 2009) AbsTrAcT Hippeastrum Herbert, amaryllis, has yielded popular large-lowered hybrids over a 200-year breeding history, with the netherlands and South Africa currently dominat- ing the market. The USDA breeding program is now almost ten years old, built upon a ten-year previous history at the University of Florida that yielded three patented triploid varieties. This program has focused heavily on two species, H. papilio and H. brasilianum, and over 1000 selections of diploid, triploid, and tetraploid progeny have been stockpiled. Attempts to develop a domestic commercial producer have been stymied by economic conditions, and a steady program of patented release is planned. Future directions of the breeding involve induction of tetraploidy in diploid selections, and genomic explorations of genes involved in loral fragrance and pig- ment expression. Keywords: plant breeding, lower bulbs, amaryllis, loral fragrance, loral pigments, genetics InTroducTIon Hippeastrum Herbert, amaryllis, has yielded popular large-lowered hybrids over a 200-year breeding history (read, 2004). Bulbs are produced for indoor forcing and, to a lesser extent, garden use in mild winter areas (USDA Hardiness Zones 7B-11). Amaryllis is much appreciated by gardeners for ease of culture, while ama- teur plant breeders have found it an easy and rewarding group to hybridize (Meerow, 2000a). Hippeastrum consists of 50–60 entirely new World species, though one species, H. reginae Herbert, appears to have been introduced to Africa. The species are con- centrated in two main areas of diversity, one in eastern Brazil, and the other in the central southern Andes of Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, on the eastern slopes and adjacent foothills (Meerow, 2004). A few species extend north to Mexico and the West Indies. The genus is es- sentially tropical and subtropical, though some species occur far enough south of the equator and at suficient elevation to be considered temperate plants. little of this genetic diversity is represented in modern, commercial amaryllis hybrids. Early hybrids were produced from a relatively small number of species, mainly H. vittatum Herbert, H. reginae Herbert, H. puniceum (lamarck) Voss, H. aulicum Herbert, H. psittacinum (Ker Gawler) Herbert, H. striatum (lamarck) H.E. Moore, and H. re- ticulatum Herbert (Traub, 1934a, 1958; Bell, 1973a; Cage, 1978a; Shields, 1979). To date, the only reported intergeneric hybrid involving Hippeastrum that appears to be true is one involving Sprekelia formosissima (l.) Herbert (Aztec lily), which has been shown to be apo- mictic (Zonneveld, 2004).