This is a list of plant hybrids created intentionally or by chance and exploited commercially in agricultureorhorticulture. The hybridization event mechanism is documented where known, along with the authorities who described it.
Species | Common name | Family | Hybridization | Confirmed or putative hybridization? | Putative parental/ introgressive species | Polyploid or homoploid? | Polyploid chromosome count | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abelmoschus esculentus | Okra | Malvaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Putative | Uncertain | Polyploid (tetraploid) | usually 2n=4x=130 | Joshi and Hardas, 1956; Schafleitner et al., 2013 | Variable ploidy |
Actinidia deliciosa | Kiwifruit | Actinidiaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Putative | Actinidia chinensis and other Actinidia species | Polyploid (hexaploid) | 2n=6x=174 | Atkinson et al., 1997 | |
Agave fourcroydes | Henequen | Asparagaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain | Polyploid (usu. pentaploid, triploid) | 2n=5x(3x)=150(90) | Robert et al., 2008; Hughes et al., 2007 | Variable ploidy, polyploid event not recent |
Agave sisalana | Sisal | Asparagaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain | Polyploid (usu. pentaploid, hexaploid) | 2n=5x(6x)=150(180) | Robert et al., 2008 | Variable ploidy, polyploid event not recent |
Allium ampeloprasum | Great headed garlic | Amaryllidaceae | Intraspecific hybrid origin | Putative | Allium ampeloprasum | Homoploid | – | Guenaoui et al., 2013 | |
Allium cepa | Common onion | Amaryllidaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Putative | Uncertain: Allium vavilovii, A. galanthumorA. fistulosum | Homoploid | – | Gurushidze et al., 2007 | |
Allium cornutum | Triploid onion | Amaryllidaceae | Triparental allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Allium cepa, A. roylei, other Allium species | Polyploid (triploid) | 2n=3x=24 | Fredotovic et al., 2014 | |
Ananas comosus | Pineapple | Bromeliaceae | Interspecific introgression | Putative | Ananas ananassoides | Homoploid | – | Duval et al., 2003 | |
Annona × atemoya | Atemoya | Annonaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Annona cherimola and A. squamosa | ? | – | Perfectti et al., 2004; Jalikop, 2010 | |
Arachis hypogaea | Peanut | Fabaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Arachis duranensis and A. ipaënsis | Polypoid (tetraploid) | 2n=4x=40 | Kochert et al., 1996; Bertioli et al., 2011 | |
Armoracia rusticana | Horseradish | Brassicaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Putative | Uncertain | ? | – | Courter and Rhodes, 1969 | |
Artocarpus altilis | Breadfruit | Moraceae | Interspecific introgression | Putative | Artocarpus mariannensis | ? | – | Zerega et al., 2005; Jones et al., 2013 | |
Avena sativa | Oat | Poaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain | Polyploid (hexaploid) | 2n=6x=42 | Linares et al., 1998; Oliver et al., 2013 | |
Brassica carinata | Ethiopian mustard | Brassicaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Brassica oleracea and B. nigra | Polyploid (tetraploid) | 2n=4x=19 | Arias et al., 2014 | |
Brassica juncea | Indian mustard | Brassicaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Brassica nigra and B. rapa | Polyploid (tetraploid) | 2n=4x=18 | Arias et al., 2014 | |
Brassica napus | Rapeseed, rutabega | Brassicaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Brassica rapa and B. oleracea | Polyploid (tetraploid) | 2n=4x=19 | Arias et al., 2014 | |
Cajanus cajan | Pigeon pea | Fabaceae | Intraspecific introgression, interspecific introgression | Putative | Wild Cajanus cajan and other Cajanus species | Homoploid | – | Kassa et al., 2012 | |
Cannabis sativa | Hemp | Cannabaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Putative | Cannabis sativa 'Indica' and 'Sativa' types | Homoploid | – | de Meijer and van Soest, 1992 | |
Carica pentagona | Babaco | Caricaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain (Carica stipulata, Vasconcellea pubescens, V. weberbaueri | ? | – | Van Droogenbroeck et al., 2002; Van Droogenbroeck et al., 2006 | |
Carya illinoinensis | Pecan | Juglandaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Putative | Uncertain | ? | – | Grauke et al., 2011 | |
Castanea dentata | American Chestnut | Fagaceae | Interspecific introgression | Confirmed | Castanea pumila | Homoploid | – | Li and Dane, 2013 | Also ongoing efforts to introgress blight resistance from Castanea mollissima (see Jacobs et al., 2013) |
Castanea sativa | Chestnut | Fagaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Castanea sativa Eurosiberian and Mediterranean populations | Homoploid | – | Villani et al., 1999; Mattioni et al., 2013 | |
Chenopodium quinoa | Quinoa | Chenopodiaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Putative | Uncertain | Polyploid (tetraploid) | – | Heiser, 1974; Ward, 2000; Maughan et al., 2004 | |
Cicer arietinum | Chickpea (pea-shaped) | Fabaceae | Intraspecific hybrid origin | Putative | Cicer arietinum Desi and Kabuli germplasm | ? | – | Upadhyaya et al., 2008; Keneni et al., 2011 | |
Cichorium intybus | Radicchio | Asteraceae | Interspecific introgression | Confirmed | Wild Cichorium intybus | Homoploid | – | Kiaer et al., 2009 | |
Citrus aurantiifolia | Key lime | Rutaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Citrus medica and Citrus subg. Papeda | ? | – | Ollitrault and Navarro, 2012; Penjor et al., 2014; Nicolosi et al., 2000; Moore, 2001 | |
Citrus aurantium | Sour oranges | Rutaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Citrus maxima and C. reticulata | ? | – | Wuet al., 2014; Moore, 2001 | |
Citrus clementina | Clementine | Rutaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Citrus sinensis and C. reticulata | ? | – | Wuet al., 2014 | |
Citrus limon | Lemon, lime | Rutaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Citrus medica, C. × aurantiifolia, and other Citrus species | ? | – | Nicolosi et al., 2000; Moore, 2001 | |
Citrus paradisi | Grapefruit | Rutaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Citrus sinensis and C. maxima | ? | – | Wuet al., 2014; Moore, 2001 | |
Citrus reticulata | Mandarin | Rutaceae | Interspecific introgression | Confirmed | Citrus maxima | ? | – | Wuet al., 2014 | |
Citrus sinensis | Sweet orange (blood, common) | Rutaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain | ? | – | Wuet al., 2014; Moore, 2001 | |
Cocos nucifera | Coconut | Arecaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Cocos nucifera Indo-Atlantic and Pacific lineages | Homoploid | – | Gunn et al., 2011 | |
Coffea arabica | Coffee | Rubiaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Coffea eugenioides and C. canephora | Polyploid (tetraploid) | 2n=4x=44 | Lashermes et al., 1999 | |
Corylus avellana | Hazelnut | Betulaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Wild Corylus avellana in southern Europe | Homoploid | – | Campa et al., 2011; Boccacci et al., 2013 | |
Cucurbita pepo | Winter squash, pumpkin | Cucurbitaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Putative | Cucurbita pepo var. texana | Homploid | – | Kirkpatrick and Wilson, 1988 | |
Daucus carota subsp. sativus | Carrot | Apiaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Daucus carota subsp. carota | Homoploid | – | Iorizzo et al., 2013; Simon, 2000 | |
Dioscorea species | Yam | Dioscoreaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin, introgression | Putative | Uncertain | Variable | – | Terauchi et al., 1992; Dansi et al., 1999; Bhattacharjee et al., 2011; Mignouna et al., 2002 | Multiple species of putative hybrid (perhaps allopolyploid) origin including Dioscorea cayennensis subsp. rotundata and D. cayennensis |
Diospyros kaki | Persimmon | Ebenaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Putative | Uncertain | Polyploid (hexaploid) | Yonemori et al., 2008 | ||
Ficus carica | Fig | Moraceae | Interspecific introgression | Putative | Uncertain | ? | Aradhya et al., 2010 | ||
Fragaria ananassa | Strawberry | Rosaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Fragaria virginiana (octoploid), F. chiloensis (octoploid) | Homoploid relative to parentals (octoploid) | 2n=8x=56 | Evans, 1977; Hirakawa et al., 2014 | Uncertain which species formed the octoploid progenitors |
Garcinia mangostana | Mangosteen | Clusiaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Putative | Garcinia celebica and G. malaccensis | Polyploid (tetraploid) | ? | Richards, 1990 | Recent work shows this may not be of hybrid origin (Nazre, 2014) |
Gossypium hirsutum | Upland cotton | Malvaceae | hybrid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain, referred to as 'A' and 'D' | Polyploid (formed <1MYA) | 2n =4x=52 | Wendel and Cronn 2003 | Polyploidization likely led to agronomically significant traits (Applequist et al., 2001) |
Hibiscus sabdariffa | Roselle | Malvaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Putative | Uncertain | Polyploid (tetraploid) | 2n=4x=72 | Menzel and Wilson, 1966; Satya et al., 2013 | |
Hordeum vulgare | Barley | Poaceae | Introgression | Confirmed | Hordeum spontaneum | Homoploid | Badr et al., 2000; Dai et al., 2012 | ||
Humulus lupulus | Hops | Cannabaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Humulus lupulus North American and European germplasm | Homoploid | Reeves and Richards, 2011; Stajner et al., 2008; Seefelder et al., 2000 | ||
Ipomoea batatas | Sweet potato | Convolvulaceae | Intraspecific introgression; Interspecific introgression? | Putative | Ipomoea batatas Central American and South American germplasm | Homoploid relative to parentals | Roullier et al., 2013 | ||
Juglans regia | Walnut | Juglandaceae | Interspecific hybridization | Confirmed | Juglans sigillata | Homoploid | Gunn et al., 2010 | ||
Lactuca sativa | Lettuce | Asteraceae | Intraspecific hybrid origin | Putative | Lactuca serriola and other Lactuca species | Homoploid | de Vries, 1997 | ||
Lagenaria siceraria | Bottle Gourd | Cucurbitaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Lagenaria siceraria African/American and Asian germplasm | Homoploid | Clarke et al., 2006 | ||
Lens culinaris subsp. culinaris | Lentil | Fabaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Putative | Wild lentil, Lens culinaris subsp. orientalis | Homoploid | Erskine et al., 2011 | ||
Macadamia integrifolia | Macadamia | Proteaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin, interspecific introgression | Confirmed | Macadamia tetraphylla and other Macadamia species | Homoploid | Hardner et al., 2009; Steiger et al., 2003; Aradhya et al., 1998 | ||
Malus domestica | Apple | Rosaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Malus sieversii, M. sylvestris, and possibly other Malus species | Homoploid | Cornille et al., 2012 | ||
Mentha piperita | Peppermint | Lamiaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Mentha aquatica and M. spicata | Polyploid (12-ploid) | 2n=12x=66 or 72 | Harley and Brighton, 1977; Gobert et al., 2002 | |
Musa paradisiaca | Banana | Musaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Musa acuminata and M. balbisiana | Polyploid (usually triploid) | 2n=3x=33 | Simmonds and Shepherd, 1955; Heslop-Harrison and Schwarzacher, 2007; De Langhe et al., 2010 | |
Nicotiana tabacum | Tobacco | Solanaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain (Nicotiana sylvestris and N. tomentosiformis) | Polyploid (tetraploid) | 2n=4x=48 | Kenton et al., 1993; Murad et al., 2002 | |
Olea europaea | Olive | Oleaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Putative | Wild Olea europaea, western and eastern germplasm | Homoploid | Kaniewski et al., 2012; Besnard et al., 2013; Breton et al., 2006; Rubio de Casas et al., 2006; Besnard et al., 2007; Besnard et al., 2000 | ||
Opuntia species | Opuntia | Cactaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin, Allopolyploid origin | Putative | Including Opuntia ficus-indica | Polyploid, homoploid | Hughes et al., 2007; Griffith, 2004 | ||
Oryza sativa | Rice | Poaceae | Intraspecific introgression, interspecific introgression | Putative | Oryza sativa 'Japonica' and 'Indica' germplasm, Oryza rufipogon | Homoploid | Caicedo et al., 2007; Gao and Innan, 2008 | ||
Oxalis tuberosa | Oca | Oxalidaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Putative | Uncertain | Polyploid (octaploid) | 2n=8x=64 | Emswhiller and Doyle, 2002; Emshwiller 2002; Emswhiller et al., 2009 | |
Pennisetum glaucum | Pearl millet | Poaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Wild Pennisetum glaucum | Homoploid | Oumar et al., 2008 | ||
Persea americana | Avocado (Hass and other cultivars) | Lauraceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Persea americana 'Guatamalensis', 'Drymifolia', and 'Americana' | Homoploid | Chen et al., 2008; Davis et al., 1998; Ashworth and Clegg, 2003; Douhan et al., 2011 | ||
Phoenix dactylifera | Date palm | Arecaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Putative | Uncertain | Homoploid | El Hadrami et al., 2011; Bennaceur et al., 1991 | ||
Piper methysticum | Kava | Piperaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Putative | Piper wichmannii and P. gibbiflorum | Polyploid (decaploid) | 2n=10x=130 | Singh, 2004; Lebot et al., 1991 | |
Pistacia vera | Pistachio | Anacardiaceae | Interspecific introgression | Putative | Pistacia atlantica, P. chinensis subsp. integerrima | Homoploid | Kafkas et al., 2001 | ||
Pisum abyssinicum | Abyssinian Pea | Fabaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain (Pisum fulvum and other Pisum species) | Homoploid | Vershinin et al., 2003 | ||
Pisum sativum | Pea | Fabaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain (Pisum sativum subsp. elatius and other Pisum species) | Homoploid | Vershinin et al., 2003 | ||
Plinia cauliflora | Jaboticaba | Myrtaceae | Intraspecific hybridization, interspecific hybridization | Putative | Plinia 'Jaboticaba' and 'Cauliflora' germplasm; P. peruviana | Homoploid | Balerdi et al., 2006 | ||
Prunus cerasus | Cherry | Rosaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Prunus avium and P. fruticosa | Polyploid (tetraploid) | 2n=4x=32 | Tavaud et al., 2004; Olden and Nybom, 1968 | |
Prunus domestica | Plum | Rosaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain (Prunus cerasifera and P. spinosa | Polyploid (hexaploid) | 2n=6x=48 | Zohary, 1992; Hartmann and Neumuller, 2009 | Also hybridizes with other cultivated Prunus species |
Prunus dulcis | Almond | Rosaceae | Interspecific introgression | Confirmed | Prunus orientalis and other Prunus species | Homoploid | Delplancke et al., 2012; Delplancke et al., 2013 | ||
Pyrus species | Pear | Rosaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Many species | Homoploid | Silva et al., 2014 | Also introgression with semidomesticated populations (see Iketani et al. 2009) | |
Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus | Radish | Brassicaceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum | Homoploid | Ridley et al., 2008 | ||
Rheum cultivated species | Rhubarb | Polygonaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Putative | Unclear | Homoploid relative to parentals (tetraploid) | Foust and Marshall, 1991; Kuhl and Deboer, 2008 | Hybrids include: Rheum rhaponticum L., R. rhabarbarum L., R. palmatum L. | |
Rubus species | Red raspberry, blackberry, tayberry, boysenberry, etc. | Rosaceae | Allopolyploid origin, interspecific hybridization | Confirmed | Many | Polyploid | Alice et al., 2014; Alice and Campbell, 1999 | ||
Saccharum species | Sugarcane | Poaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Saccharum officinarum and S. spontaneum | Polyploid | Variable, 2n=10-13x=100-130 | Grivet et al., 1995; D'Hont et al., 1996 | |
Secale cereale | Rye | Poaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Uncertain (Secale montanum, S. vavilovii) | Homoploid | Bartos et al., 2008; Korzun et al., 2001; Hillman, 1978; Tang et al., 2011; Salamini et al., 2002 | ||
Sechium edule | Chayote | Cucurbitaceae | Interspecific introgression | Putative | Sechium compositum | Homoploid | Newstrom, 1991 | ||
Setaria italica | Foxtail millet | Poaceae | Interspecific introgression | Confirmed | Setaria viridis | Homoploid | Till-Bottraud et al., 1992 | ||
Solanum species section Petota | Potato | Solanaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin, allopolyploid origin, interspecific introgression | Confirmed | Including Solanum tuberosum, S. ajanhuiri, S. curtilobum, S. juzepczukii | Homoploid and Polyploid | Rodriguez et al., 2010; Eggers et al., 2021[2] | ||
Solanum lycopersicum | Tomato | Solanaceae | Intraspecific introgression, interspecific introgression | Confirmed | Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme and S. pimpinellifolium | Homoploid | Blanca et al., 2012; Causse et al., 2013; Rick, 1950 | ||
Solanum melongena | Eggplant | Solanaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin, interspecific introgression, intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Solanum undatum. and other Solanum species; wild S. melongena (= S. insanum) | Homoploid | Knapp et al., 2013; Meyer et al., 2012 | Hybrid origin is not confirmed, but introgression is well documented | |
Solanum muricatum | Pepino dulce | Solanaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin, interspecific introgression | Likely | Solanum species in Series Caripensia | Homoploid | Blanca et al., 2007 | Polyphyletic origin and extensive, ongoing introgression with wild species | |
Solanum tuberosum | Potato | Solanaceae | Intraspecific Hybrid | Confirmed | Diploid potato lines crossed with S. chacoense containing Sli gene | Homoploid | Lindhout et al., 2011 | ||
Spondias purpurea | Jocote | Anacardiaceae | Interspecific introgression | Putative | Spondias mombin | Homoploid | Miller and Schaal, 2005 | ||
Theobroma cacao | Cacao (Trinitario-type) | Malvaceae | Intraspecific hybrid origin | Confirmed | Theobroma cacao 'Forastero' and 'Criollo' germplasm | Homoploid | Yang et al., 2013 | ||
Triticum aestivum | Bread wheat, spelt | Poaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Triticum turgidum (tetraploid) with Aegilops tauschii | Polyploid (hexaploid) | 2n=6x=42 | Matsuoka, 2011; Dvorak, 2012 | |
Triticum turgidum | Emmer wheat, durum wheat | Poaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Triticum urartu and Aegilops speltoides | Polyploid (tetraploid) | 2n=4x=28 | Dvorak et al., 2012; Matsuoka, 2011; Yamane and Kawahara, 2005 | |
Vaccinium corymbosum | Highbush blueberry | Ericaceae | Interspecific hybrid origin, interspecific introgression | Putative | Vaccinium tenellum, V. darrowii, (V. virgatum, V. angustifolium) | Uncertain | Vander Kloet, 1980; Bruederle et al., 1994; Lyrene et al., 2003; Boches et al., 2006 | Possible hybrid origin during the Pleistocene | |
Vanilla × tahitensis | Tahitian vanilla | Orchidaceae | Allopolyploid origin | Confirmed | Vanilla planifolia and V. odorata | Polyploid | Variable, 2n=2x(4x)=32(64) | Lubinsky et al., 2008 | |
Vitis rotundifolia | Grape | Vitaceae | Interspecific introgression | Confirmed | Many Vitis species | Homoploid | 2n=2x=38 | Reisch et al., 2012; This et al., 2006 | |
Zea mays | Maize | Poaeceae | Intraspecific introgression | Confirmed | Wild Zea mays (teosinte, =subsp. parviglumis) | Homoploid | Van Heerwaarden et al., 2011; Hufford et al., 2013 |