The recombination of some varietal characters in the opium poppy

Abstract

Selected varieties of opium poppy were crossed in pairs to determine to what extent certain desirable agronomic characters might be combined in new genotypes. Of the six crosses made, two were studied in detail and the others observed more generally. Recombinations of the required characters occurred fairly freely in the first cross and F₅ lines have been selected which produce up to twice as much morphine per acre as either parent. Suitable recombinations were rare in the second cross, but the other four yielded segregates which combined the desirable characters in varying degree.