Jake Henny, Ph.D.
Professor of Environmental Horticulture

Foliage breeding has been focused on several important tropical ornamental genera including Aglaonema, Anthurium, Dieffenbachia and Spathiphyllum. Studies included factors affecting flowering, seed set, growth and inheritance of important horticultural traits. We have also just initiated a Syngonium breeding program.

Some of the genera we continue to study and our major goals are listed below:

• Aglaonema - objectives include development of hybrids with colorful stems, petioles and leaves. Hybrids also must produce numerous basal shoots and be resistant to chilling (40°F).
• Anthurium - major goals include development of interspecific hybrids with resistance to Xanthomonas. We also are studying the effects of light, nutrition, potting medium and gibberellic acid on growth and flowering.
• Dieffenbachia - we hope to develop hybrids that have novel foliage and stem coloration and branch well. Resistance to chilling injury and tolerance to interior conditions are also screened for.
• Spathiphyllum - we have developed several interspecific hybrids that are resistant to Cylindrocladium. Three have been released for trial growing. We are also studying the effects of gibberellic acid on flowering of several of the new commercial cultivars.
• Syngonium - this is a new program geared to developing hybrids that are resistant of Myrothecium. We have collected several species and are now screening them for resistance. Species with resistance will be crossed with commercial cultivars.