® Floriculture and Ornamental Biotechnology ©2012 Global Science Books Mexican Geophytes II. The Genera Hymenocallis, Sprekelia and Zephyranthes Ernesto Tapia-Campos1 • Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Dominguez1 • María de los Milagros Revuelta-Arreola1 • Jaap M. Van Tuyl2 • Rodrigo Barba-Gonzalez1* 1 Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco A.C. Biotecnología Vegetal, Av. Normalistas #800. Colinas de la Normal., Guadalajara Jalisco, C.P. 44270, Mexico 2 Plant Breeding, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands Corresponding author: * rbarba@ciatej.net.mx; rbarba002@hotmail.com ABSTRACT Among hundreds of bulbous ornamental plants native to tropical and subtropical America, different genera from the Amaryllidaceae family such as Hymenocallis, Sprekelia and Zephyranthes present an enormous potential as ornamental crops. The genus Hymenocallis comprises over 60 species distributed from the north of Brazil to the south east of the United States; many of them are endemic to Mexico. The flowers are star shaped and white. The different species grow in a wide and contrasting diversity of habitats, near rivers and streams, on occasion completely submerged under water and sometimes in dry areas. The genus presents a complicated phylogeny, where in some cases it is difficult to distinguish species from hybrids. The genus Sprekelia is a monotypic genus native to Mexico; Sprekelia formosissima is cultivated as an ornamental pot plant in many countries. It presents solitary red flowers, their stems reaches up to 80 to 90 cm. The genus Zephyranthes comprises over 70 species distributed in tropical and subtropical America; different species are cultivated all over the world as an ornamental crop. The different species have beautiful flowers from white to yellow with various tints from lemon to sulphur and pink. In this review we will cover taxonomical, chromosomal and phenological aspects of these genera, with the aim of providing a reference of useful traits for breeding programs. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Keywords: breeding, in vitro culture, ornamental, perspectives, taxonomy Abbreviations: BA, 6-benzyladenine; GA3, gibberellic acid; IBA, indole-3-butyric acid; ITS, internal transcribed spacer region; RFLP, restriction fragment polymorphism CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................................................................... 129 ORIGIN...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 130 HYMENOCALLIS ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 131 Biology and morphology ....................................................................................................................................................................... 131 Hymenocallis ‘traditional’ classification................................................................................................................................................ 131 Hymenocallis propagation and culture................................................................................................................................................... 131 ZEPHYRANTHES ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 132 Biology and morphology ....................................................................................................................................................................... 132 Zephyranthes propagation and culture................................................................................................................................................... 134 Zephyranthes reproduction .................................................................................................................................................................... 134 Zephyranthes breeding .......................................................................................................................................................................... 135 SPREKELIA ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 136 Biology and morphology ....................................................................................................................................................................... 136 Sprekelia propagation and culture ......................................................................................................................................................... 136 Sprekelia breeding ................................................................................................................................................................................. 136 ALKALOIDS OF HYMENOCALLIS, SPREKELIA AND ZEPHYRANTHES ........................................................................................... 137 CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................................................................................................ 137 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 138 REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................................................................... 138 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION The Amaryllidaceae J. St.-Hil. is a cosmopolitan family (predominantly pantropical) of petaloid monocots (Meerow et al. 1999). Its origin is western Gondwanaland in Africa, from where it radiated to Australia, Eurasia and America (Huber 1969; Raven and Axelrod 1974; Meerow et al. 1999). The genera Hymenocallis Salisb., Sprekelia Heister and Zephyranthes Herb. are components of terminal subclades whose higher diversity is present in Mexico. These Received: 26 January, 2011. Accepted: 20 December, 2012. genera have been cultivated in some cases, for centuries; however, it is worthwhile to reconsider their potential as ornamental plants and for their pharmaceutical importance due to their alkaloid content. The aim of this work is to give an insight to the origin of the genera, their culture and propagation techniques, and to focus attention on traits of ornamental importance of the Mexican species to set a base for their use in breeding programs. Invited Review Floriculture and Ornamental Biotechnology 6 (Special Issue 1), 129-139 ©2012 Global Science Books Table 1 Mexican species of the genus Hymenocallis, their distribution in Mexico and some traits of ornamental interest. Species Distribution Traits of interest H. acutifolia (Herb. ex Sims) Sweet Wide distribution Narrow foliage, blooms from late summer through autumn H. araniflora T.M.Howard Sur Sinaloa, Nayarit Clusters of long-tubed, sweet-scented blooms, pale green to grayish foliage (Ogden 2007) H. astrostephana T.M.Howard Guerrero Costate leaves, two to five long-tubed flowers (Howard 2001) H. azteciana Traub. Jalisco, Nayarit, Zacatecas Spreading, long-stemmed or petiolated leaves with a satiny dusting of gray overlaying dark green. Small clusters of erect blooms (Ogden 2007) H. baumlii Ravenna Chiapas Erect green star-shaped leaves, ribbon-like flowers (Howard 2001) H. choretis Hemsl. C & SW. Mexico Large-cupped snowy blossoms, with orange pollen. Gray foliage (Ogden 2007) H. cleo Ravenna Chiapas Medium-sized white flowers, broad, glaucous, petiolated leaves (Howard 2001) H. clivorum Laferr Sonora Green stamens, long and thin tepals H. concinna Baker Jalisco Endangered species H. cordifolia Micheli Guerrero Heart-shaped petiolated leaves, umbels of small white flowers (Howard 2001) H. durangoensis T.M.Howard Durango Thick and short sepals. Blooms in early summer. Self-compatible. Endangered specie H. eucharidifolia Baker Guerrero, Oaxaca Broad, green hosta-like foliage. Snowy foliage held in up-facing groups of three or more H. galuca (Zucc.) M.Roem. C&SW Mexico Large-cupped upright snowy blossoms, with orange pollen with a ammonia or chlorine fragrance. Gray foliage (Ogden 2007) H. graminifolia Greenm Morelos Dwarf, glaucous leaves, fragrant flowers (Howard 2001) H. guerreroensis T.M.Howard Guerrero Endangered species H. harrisiana Herb C & SW Mexico Small upright flowers with good sized blooms H. howardii Bauml SW Mexico Small plant of glaucous foliage, blooms form mid-June through mid-July H. imperialis T.M.Howard San Luis Potosí, Hidalgo Wide, snowy petals. Blooms from late April and May. The bulbs are huge and the big leaves are spear-shaped. H. jaliscensis M.E.Jones Jalisco, Nayarit Big upright flowers (Borys et al. 2008) H. leavenworthii (Standl. & Michoacán Spreading long stemmed or petiolated leaves with a satiny dusting of gray overlaying Steyerm.) Bauml dark green. Small clusters of erect blooms (Ogden 2007). Endangered species H. lehmilleri T.M.Howard Guerrero Elegant white flowers with thin petals, greenish filaments H. littoralis (Jacq.) Salisb. Wide distribution Slender petals attached to the cups of the blooms. Blooms in August. Filaments tipped with bright orange pollen (Ogden 2007) H. longibracteata Hochr. Veracruz Presumed extinct (Castillo-Campos et al. 2005) H. maximiliani T.M.Howard Guerrero Compact, narrow and erect foliage. Long and narrow sepals H. partita Ravenna Chiapas Aquatic, pleasant fragrance H. phalangidis Bauml Nayarit Daffolil-like plant with few flowered umbels (Howard 2001) H. pimana Laferr. Chihuhua Flowers with yellowish-centered flat cup (Howard 2001) H. portamonetensis Ravenna Chiapas Sharp lanceolate leaves, four to five flowers H. proterantha Bauml. SW Mexico Wide, petiolated glaucous leaves; flowers appear as leaves go dormant (Howard 2001) H. pumila Bauml. Jalisco, Colima Dwarf habit, bright green sword-like leaves (Howard 2001) H. sonorensis Standl. Sonora to Nayarit Clusters of long-tubed, sweet scented blooms, pale green to grayish foliage (Ogden 2007) H. vasconcelossi Garcia-Mend. Oaxaca, Puebla Few oblong-elliptical green leaves. White flowers with thin and short tepals (GarciaMendoza 2010) H. woelfleana T.M.Howard Durango, Sonora, Nayarit Presence of a pedicel below the ovary (Howard 1978) ORIGIN (Meerow 1987, 1989; Merrow et al. 2002). A study of the phylogeny of the genus Hymenocallis, based on cladistic analyses of morphology, plastids and ribosomal DNA, groups the Hymenocallidae tribe with three genera: Hymenocallis, Ismene Herb. and Leptochiton Sealy, being the latter sister to the Hymenocallis/Ismene clade. As the genera Ismene and Leptochiton are endemic to the central Andes and Hymenocallis is absent from this region, this study suggests an entry of the Amaryllidaceae through South America and a vicariance event at some point subsequent to the origin of the tribe, with a later extinction of the intervening populations of a proto-Hymenocallis ancestor (Meerow et al. 1999, 2002). Furthermore, Meerow et al. (1999) investigated the fact that the Eurasian sister clade has been successful in adapting to temperate habitats, whereas the American clade has not been able to adapt to those climates. There is also evidence from internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) analyses in the genus Zephyranthes of the probable center of origin of the Amaryllidaceae family’s extant diversity in the Americas in South America, with a later migration to North America. The results of Meerow et al. (2000) show two Zephyranthes clades having originated by different migration paths northwards from South America. The South American species Z. flavissima Ravenna and Z. mesochloa Herb. are sister to the Mexican Zephyranthes clade, suggesting a migration from South America northward through the Panamerican isthmus. The second clade includes species from Argentina (Z. candida (Lindl.) Herb., Z. filifolia Baker & Kraenzl.), Brazil (Z. cearensis Hymenocallis, Sprekelia and Zephyranthes are bulbous genera of the monocotyledoneous family Amaryllidaceae. The systematics of the family have undergone study at several levels (Meerow et al. 1999) and there is a sister relationship between the Eurasian/Mediterranean clade and the American genera. The Madrean–Tethyan hypothesis notes that the initial entry of the family occurred through North America during the late Cretaceous to the early Eocene, when North America and western Europe may have shared a warm, seasonally dry climate (Axelrod 1973, 1975) which might have allowed east/west movement of species, with island chains of the mid-Atlantic ridge providing stepping stones (Meerow et al. 1999). However, there are members of the family in Mexico and the United States that are linked to more basal taxa endemic to South America (Meerow et al. 1999). The Madrean-Tethyan hypothesis has been questioned after several studies utilizing isozymes, plastid DNA, restriction fragment polymorphisms (RFLPs), and cladistic analyses of taxa considered emblematic of the disjunction (Little and Chrutchfield 1969; Kölher and Brückner 1989; Liston et al. 1992; Ray 1994; Meerow et al. 1999, 2002). Due to the distribution of Amaryllidaceae in America and the generic richness south of the equator, a massive extinction event should have occurred after migration to South America (Meerow et al. 1999). However, there is evidence that the movement of Amaryllidaceae has been northward from South America 130 Mexican geophytes II. A review of the genera Hymenocallis, Sprekelia and Zephyranthes. Tapia-Campos et al. Baker), Cuba (Z. rosea (Sprenger) Lindl.) and North America (Z. atamasco (L.) Herb., Z. simpsonii Chapm.), suggesting that this clade entered the southeastern United States via Cuba after migrating from South America (Meerow et al. 2000). Cladistic analyses of plastid DNA sequences rbcL and trn-L-F and ITS position the genus Hymenocallis as a monophyletic group; belonging to the Hymenocalliade tribe along with Ismene and Leptochiton the three genera are enclosed in the Andean clade (Meerow et al. 2000). The genus Zephyranthes, a polyphyletic group, may represent convergence of two (albeit related) lineages of North (Meso) American and South America (Meerow 1995), however, a wider sampling of the genus revealed a putative triple origin of the genus (Meerow et al. 2000). Zephyranthes, together with Sprekelia and Habranthus are nested in the Zephyranthinae subtribe of the Hippeastrae tribe, together with the genera Hippeastrum Herb., Rodophiala C. Presl and Traubia Moldenke, within the Hippeastroid clade. of this alliance have slightly lanceolate leaves, are usually evergreen, with shortly joined perigonium segments to the stamina corona. It is distributed in Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico. V. Caroliniana, which have introrse anthers, caduceus leaves and a globular ovary with less than four ovules per locule. These species are native to the southern U.S. VI. Henryae, distributed in Florida and Cuba, with caduceus leaves, introrse anthers, oblong ovaries and more than four ovules per locule. Hymenocallis propagation and culture Most of the cultivated Hymenocallis are old heirloom flowers spread widely by sailors in the 16th century; they were originally brought from the tropical shores of the Antilles and the Spanish Main. The identities of these plants are hidden in a tangled horticultural history. These beautiful flowers are sold in nurseries as H. littoralis Salisb., H. caribbaea Herb., H. rotata (Ker Gawler) Herb., or H. tenuiflora Herb. (Ogden 2007). In Mexico, H. laevenworthii (Standl. & Steyerm.) Bauml, H. proterantha Bauml. and H. harrasiana Herb. are planted in home gardens and open areas (Borys et al. 2005a). Hymenocallis is a very minor component in the bulb trade, however, the beauty of the spider lily flowers, their fragrance and their vigorous growth hint at the potential value of the genus (Hanks and Jones 1987). Some of the Mexican species are shown in Fig. 1, and a list of traits of ornamental importance is given in Table 1. There is little information regarding reproductive capacity of the genus and it is mainly propagated by seeds produced by self pollination and by bulb offsets (Borys et al. 2005a). Two groups of Hymenocallis can be identified by their ecology; xerophytes and meso-hydrophytes (Borys et al. 2005a, 2008). In both groups the seeds lack dormancy; the xeric group (caduceus leaves) is polyembryogenic, their seeds show a sequential emergence of embryogenic roots followed by rapid formation of small rooted, leafless bulbils, which are forced by contractile roots into deep soil layers and enter a deep dormancy period. During the following rainy season the bulbs forms feeder roots and primary leaves. The meso-hydrophyte group is evergreen and their seeds produce only one embryogenic root, terminating in a leafy and rooted bulbil of continuous growth (Borys et al. 2005a). As mentioned before, traditional propagation of Hymenocallis is done by seeds or by bulb offsets; however, Leszczynska et al. (2005) utilized scales and rooted basal plates for the propagation of Mexican spider lilies. Both scales and the rooted basal plates were able to form bulbils in a variable number and size per scale or bulb. The bulbs were produced in different positions, the scales formed bulbils at the basal end of veins, while in the rooted basal plates the bulbils were produced either between scales or on the upper parts of the remaining scales. In the latter case, the central part had to be removed to avoid the reappearance of the dominant meristem and the bulbils were separated when the basal plate decomposed. Micropropagation of H. littoralis has been described by Backhaus et al. (1992). Bulb scales of H. littoralis were utilized as explants, surface-sterilization was made by submerging the bulbs in a 1% solution of NaOCl, 0.1% Tween® 20 for 20 min, followed by three washes in sterile distilled water. The scales with a small portion of the basal plate attached were cultured in darkness in a basal medium (BM) composed by Murashige and Skoog (1962; MS) salts, supplied with 3% sucrose, 100 mg/l myo-inositol, 0.4 mg/l thiamine-HCl and 7 g/l TC agar; 1-9 bulblets were formed after 5 weeks and were sub-cultured in a proliferation medium containing the BM medium to which 2 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 00.02 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were added. On average, 8 new shoots/bulblet were produced. After proliferation, the bulbs were placed in a rooting medium composed of the BM medium plus 6 g/l agar. The rooted bulbs were successfully transferred to an HYMENOCALLIS Biology and morphology The genus Hymenocallis Salisb. comprises about 70 species distributed from the southeastern United States to northern South America, and present in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Islands (Grossi 2007). Mexico possess the highest number of species of the genus (32, many of them endemic) (Table 1) with a secondary area of diversity in the U.S. (Bauml 1979; Smith and Flory 1990, 2001; Smith et al. 2001).The chromosome number of the genus has been reported as 2n = 2x = 46 and 40; however, many aneuploid accessions that have been reported showing a derivation of these numbers; H. henryae Traub. possesses a chromosome number of 2n = 2x = 38, being the lowest reported for the genus (Smith and Flory 1990). Different species have been cultivated worldwide for two main purposes, their alkaloid content and ornamental value. ‘Spider lily’ is the common name for the genus Hymenocallis (from Greek “beautiful membrane”); they are bulbous and perennial herbaceous plants, with elegant, long-tubed, snowy white flowers, some of them with a pleasant fragrance. Their bulbs are roundish or oblong, from which thick whitish roots emerge, covered by a tunic. The most outstanding trait is the pancratioid morphology of the flowers, with the stamens united into a distinctive corona and the long and narrow tepals which give them their characteristic “spidery” look. They have a variable number of distichous leaves, except H. eucharidifolia Baker, which has a rosette. The leaves range from 5-7 mm wide and are sessile, linear and glaucous in H. graminifolia, Greenm. to 15 cm wide, petioled, lanceolate and bright green in H. speciosa Salisb. (Preuss 2002; Grossi 2007). Spider lilies grow in a wide diversity of habitats. The North American spider lilies grow in or on the margins of wetlands habitats, and less often in dry, flat woods or in disturbed sites, whereas the Mexican spider lilies grow in most of the climatic conditions of Mexico, from the north to the south, from xeric to aquatic conditions and from arid climates with increased elevation to tropical coastal areas (Preuss 2002). Hymenocallis ‘traditional’ classification Traub (1962) grouped the Hymenocallis species into six alliances based on morphological characteristics. These are: I. Speciosa, which comprises species with petiolate leaves, distributed in Brazil, Mexico and the Caribbean. II. Mexicana, with sessile leaves or sub-petiolate that are oblong, oblong-lanceolate, ensiform or caduceus, native to Mexico. III. Caribeae, with slightly lanceolate leaves, evergreen, with free perigonium segments in relation to the staminal corona. Species of this alliance are distributed in Central America, the Caribbean and Florida. IV. Littoralis, species 131 Floriculture and Ornamental Biotechnology 6 (Special Issue 1), 129-139 ©2012 Global Science Books Fig. 1 Some Hymenocallis species present in Mexico. (A) H. howardii; (B) H. concinna; (C) H. acutifolia; (D) H. jaliscensis; (E) H. protheranta; (F) H. laevenworthii; (G) H. concinna in its natural habit. Photos: A. Rodriguez. intermittent mist greenhouse. With the application of these techniques it is possible to achieve massive production for commercial purposes. Spider lilies are not hardy. H. littoralis prefers a welldrained soil with organic matter and abundant irrigation. In a study performed by Isdo et al. (2007), 2-year-old bulbs of H. littoralis were cultivated in a natural field soil (a fineloamy, mixed (calcareous), hyperthermic Anthropic Torrifluvet), in the Sonoran Desert environment of central Arizona, and the plants exposed to two different levels of ambient air of 400 and 700 ppm CO2. This increase in atmospheric CO2 resulted in 48% increase in above ground growth and 56% increase in bulb growth. Additionally, it also increased the concentrations of five bulb constituents that possess anticancer, and antiviral properties. There have been some attempts to control forcing in H. x festalis (Worsley) Schmarse (=Ismene x festalis Worsley); unfortunately, unsuccessfully (De Hertogh and le Nard 1993). Hanks and Jones (1987) stored bulbs of H. x festalis over winter at 5°C, promoting less flowering. Flower formation in H. speciosa is inhibited in plants held at 25°C but prompted in plants transferred to 15° or 20°C after 1 July (Mori et al. 1991). Borys et al. (2009) in an attempt to break dormancy in H. harrasiana and H. jaliscensis M.E. Jones stored the bulbs at 18 to 22°C for 5 to 7 months and planted them in soil at temperatures that ranged from 10 to 35°C. Their results showed that with a longer storage the time to initiate the emission of leaves decreased, but also the number of scapes. Anyway, the results varied when the bulbs were grown in open fields, concluding that neither clone is suited for forced flowering. Fig. 2 Some Zephyranthes species present in Mexico. (A) Z. nymphaea; (B) Z. latissimifolia; (C) Z. fosteri; (D) Z. concolor; (E) Z. macrosiphon; (F) Z. clintiae. Photos: A. Rodriguez ZEPHYRANTHES many of which are endemic. Together with the genus Habranthus they are commonly known as ‘rain lilies’ because the flowers appear in spring through fall after the first rains (Knox 2009). The genus takes its name after the Greek god of the west wind that typically brought the rainfall ‘Zephyrus’. Rain lilies are noteworthy for the wide ecological Biology and morphology The genus Zephyranthes Herb. is a bulbous perennial of the Amaryllidaceae family. It comprises about 90 species, of which at least 37 are native to Mexico (Table 2; Fig. 2), 132 Mexican geophytes II. A review of the genera Hymenocallis, Sprekelia and Zephyranthes. Tapia-Campos et al. Table 2 Mexican species of the genus Zephyranthes, their distribution in Mexico and traits of ornamental interest. Species Distribution Traits of interest Zephyranthes arenicola Baja California, Isla Bloom color: white / near white Brandegee Guadalupe Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall. Zephyranthes bella Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí Bloom color: pink; white / near white T.M.Howard & S.Ogden Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall. Zephyranthes brevipes Standl. Chiapas, Coahuila, Hidalgo, Bloom color: pink Morelos Ovary almost sessile Zephyranthes carinata Herb. Mexico to Colombia Scape bearing a single pink flower Zephyranthes chichimeca NE Mexico Bloom color: pink or rose blushed petals, clustering habit and obovate to spatulate T.M.Howard & S.Ogden petals Bloom time: late spring / early summer. Zephyranthes chlorosolen Kansas to E. Mexico, Yucatan Flowers erect; perianth white, sometimes tinged or veined pink (Herb.) D.Diettr Bloom time: late spring / early fall (May-Oct). Zephyranthes chrysantha Texas to Tamaulipas and Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Greenm. & C.H.Thomps Nuevo Leon Z. citrina Baker SE Mexico, Cuba to haiti Flowers erect; perianth lemon yellow, funnelform, 3.1–5 cm; perianth tube green. Bloom time: summer (Jul-Sep) Zephyranthes clintiae Traub Querétaro, San Luis Potosí Bloom color: pink Zephyranthes concolor (Lindl.) Mexico Bloom color: chartreuse (yellow-green); white / near white Benth. & Hook.f Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Zephyranthes conzattii Greenm. Oaxaca Endangered specie Zephyranthes crociflora Coahuila Bloom color: pale pink; white / near white T.M.Howard & S.Ogden Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Zephyranthes dichromantha San Luis Potosí Bloom color: pale yellow T.M.Howard Bloom time: mid summer; late summer / early fall Zephyranthes drummondii NW. Florida to NE. Mexico Flowers erect; perianth white, sometimes flushed pink abaxially, more so with age, D.Don in R.Sweet broadly funnelform. Flowering mid spring--mid summer (Mar--Aug). Zephyranthes erubescens NE. Mexico Bloom color: red; white / near white S.Watson Bloom time: late summer/early fall; mid fall. Zephyranthes fosteri Traub San Luis Potosi and Jalisco to Bloom color: flowers erect or slightly inclined, white, pink or red Guerrero, Puebla and Oaxaca. Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall. Zephyranthes howardii Traub Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi Bloom color: yellow Zephyranthes katheriniae Hidalgo Bloom color: pink; rose / mauve; red; bright yellow L.B.Spencer Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Zephyranthes latissimifolia Jalisco Bloom color: pink; white / near white L.B.Spencer Bloom time: late spring / early summer Zephyranthes leucantha Hidalgo Bloom color: white / near white T.M.Howard Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Zephyranthes lindleyana Herb. NE Mexico to C. America Bloom color: magenta (pink-purple) Bloom time: late spring / early summer Zephyranthes longifolia Hemsl. SE. Arizona to W. Texas and Bloom color: flowers erect to slightly inclined; pale yellow Mexico Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Zephyranthes macrosiphon NE. Mexico Bloom color: pink; rose / mauve Baker Bloom time: mid fall Zephyranthes minuta (Kunth) Mexico to Guatemala Bloom color. pink, rose D.Dietr. Big flowers Veracruz Bloom color: pink; white / near white Zephyranthes miradorensis Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall (Kraenzl.) Espejo & López-Ferr. Zephyranthes moctezumae San Luis Potosi Bloom color: pale pink especially on the outside of the petals T.M.Howard Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Zephyranthes morrisclintii Nuevo Leon Bloom color: pale pink Traub & T.M.Howard Bloom time: late spring / early summer Zephyranthes nelsonii Greenm. Estado de Mexico, Veracruz, Bloom color: pale pink, sometimes with red stripes on the petals; white / near white Oaxaca, Chiapas Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Zephyranthes nervosa Herb. SE. Mexico Bloom color: white / near white Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Zephyranthes nymphaea Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi Bloom color: chartreuse (yellow-green) T.M.Howard & S.Ogden Bloom time: late summer / early fall; mid fall Zephyranthes orellanae Yucatan Flower erect, actinomorphic. Clear yellow, with or without pale reddish tinges toward Carnevali, Duno & J. L. Tapia the apices of the external faces of the external tepals. Species in critical condition. Zephyranthes primulina San Luis Potosi Bloom color: pale or light yellow flowers backed pink-peach, most noticeable when in T.M.Howard & S.Ogden bud. Bloom time: late spring / early summer Zephyranthes pulchella J.G.Sm. Texas to NE. Mexico Bloom color: flowers erect, bright yellow with orange or red tints on the petals Bloom time: late summer / early fall Zephyranthes reginae San Luis Potosi Bloom color: pale yellow, coral / apricot T.M.Howard & S.Ogden Bloom time: mid summer. Rarely seen in cultivation. Zephyranthes sessilis Herb. State of Mexico and Distrito Bloom color: white, white with pink, white with reddish of the external faces of flower Federal Zephyranthes subflava San Luis Potosi Bloom color: white / near white; cream / tan L.B.Spencer Bloom time: mid summer; late summer / early fall Zephyranthes traubii (W.Hayw.) SE. Texas to NE. Mexico Bloom color: pale pink; white / near white Moldenke Bloom time: late summer / early fall 133 Floriculture and Ornamental Biotechnology 6 (Special Issue 1), 129-139 ©2012 Global Science Books niche they occupy, from xeric to temporarily flooded conditions, and have many coveted ornamental characteristics (Knox 2009). Zephyranthes bulbs are rounded or ovoid, covered with a thin brown or black tunic. Depending on the species, the bulbs range in size from 2.5 cm to more than 5 cm in diameter (Knox 2005), the leaves are linear form bright grassy green to rather broad and glaucous, the size of the leaves varies from tiny in Z. jonesii (Cory) Traub to broad in Z. lindleyana Herb.; the scape is slender, hollow and leafless with one (rarely six) flower(s) at the apex. Rain lily flowers appear in spring, summer, or fall, depending on the species (Knox 2005). The flowers of Zephyranthes are funnelshaped and have six petals; they are white, pink or yellow and crocus-like (Marta 2005). Flowers of novel hybrids occur in shades of pink, orange and red; some are multicolored with striped or picotee patterns (Knox 2009). Some species have a sweet pleasant fragrance, which appears to be recessive; however, there are some species that carry the trait (Z. drummondi D.Don, Z. morrisclintii Traub & T.M.Howard, Z. jonesii) (Marta 2005; Roy Chowdhury 2006). Zephyranthes propagation and culture The flowers of Zephyranthes lasts just one or two days, depending on sunlight and temperature, however, new flowers continuously develop for several days, creating flushes of flowering. Rainfall triggers blooming (Knox et al. 2009). Most species under cultivation will bloom without the naturally imposed drought and wet that occurs in nature. When grown in greenhouses, rain lilies will bloom constantly; however, they have cycles of flowering. Z. primulina T.M.Howard & S.Ogden might be one of the longest blooming of all species (Marta 2005). Depending on the species, a cycle of dryness followed by watering encourages flowering. Scagel (2003) planted bulbs of different Zephyranthes and Habranthus species (Z. candida (Lindl.) Herb., Z. citrina Baker, H. robusta Herb. ex Sweet) into cylindrical pots containing either a steam-pasteurized or a non-pasteurized 1:1 mixture of Willamette Valley alluvial silt loam and river sand (11 mg kg-1 available (Bray) phosphorus (P), pH of 6.3). The pasteurized and non-pasteurized soil was inoculated with the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF) (Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith), at a rate of 1:166 (v/v), placing the inoculum at the base of each bulb at planting; as a control, sterilized inoculum was added at the base of the bulbs. The plants were maintained in glasshouses, fertilized and watered as needed. The results of Scagel (2003) showed that shoots of inoculated plants emerged 7-13 days before non-inoculated plants; in the case of Z. candida and H. robusta the emergence of flower bud was slightly delayed, and flower production was only increased when plants were grown in pasteurized soil; Z. citrina flowered 4-11 days earlier and the number of flowers was increased compared to non-inoculated plants; the leaf biomass was larger for Z. citrina but lower in Z. candida and H. robusta when the plants were inoculated. In a second growing cycle, the combined weight of bulbs and offsets was increased in Z. candida and Z. citrina by 50% to 150% at the end of the growing cycle. The viability of the seed is lost rapidly; germination occurs in two to six weeks; under ideal conditions, seedlings will flower in 8 to 12 months (Knox 2009), but 2 years from seed to flower are reported (Smith et al. 1999). For this reason, rain lilies are traditionally propagated by bulb division or seeds; however, this conventional propagation is slow, seasonal and inconsistent. Additionally, hybrids may vary in the numbers of offsets they produce (Smith et al. 1999; Knox 2009; Gongopadhyay et al. 2010). To achieve massive production of bulbs, a viable alternative to conventional propagation is micropropagation. Disinfestation is a crucial step for in vitro cultures, and on 134 many occasions a considerable amount of plant tissue is needed because in every disinfestation process, some tissue must be discarded. The bulbs of some Zephyranthes species are small, and surface-disinfestation is difficult due to contamination, therefore, different tissue sources should be utilized. With this aim, Smith et al. (1999) established in vitro culture from seeds of different Zephyranthes species; the seeds were surface-sterilized for 2 min. in 95% alcohol, followed by 20% bleach for 15 min. and rinsed three times with sterile water. The seeds were germinated in a media containing MS inorganic salts and 30 g/l sucrose. The bulbs, twin scales and cross sections of the leaves, as well as the leaves from the aseptically germinated plants, served as explants for multiplication and adventitious regeneration. Bulbs were produced from the twin scale explants and embryogenic callus was obtained. Aware of the contamination problems for micropropagation in the genus Zephyranthes, Gongopadhyay et al. (2010) collected bulbs of Z. grandiflora Lindl. (= Z. minuta D. Dietr.) and washed them thoroughly under running tap water, removed the outermost scale and immersed them in Teepol for 2-5 min. with continuous shaking, then rinsed them in distilled water. Later the bulbs where surface-sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2 for 2 s, washed 3-4 times in sterile water, cut in segments and placed in MS media supplemented with 3% sucrose and 1 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). The decontamination protocol was unsuccessful and had to be discarded due to microbial contamination. In a later attempt to decontaminate the Z. candida bulbs, Gongopadhyay et al. (2010) repeated the decontamination protocol, nevertheless, this time they treated the bulbs with 0.2 % Bavistin® and 0.1% Pantomycin for 2, 3, 4, and 5 h under continuous shaking before surface sterilization with HgCl2. The antibiotic addition proved to be efficient and they obtained a 67% (4-h treatment) of non-contaminated explants. The in vitro-established bulbs were utilized for further micropropagation experiments and two types of explants were used: i) segmented bulbs and ii) bulb scales from the inner 2-3 layers. The explants were transferred to MS media supplemented with 3% sucrose and 2 mg/l BA. From the basal half of the bulb scales 11 shoots in average were regenerated and more shoots emerged on a basal achlorophyllous bulbous part. The shoots were transferred to MS media augmented with 2 mg/l BA and 1 mg/l gibberellic acid (GA3) for enhancement. Stout roots were developed in the presence of 1 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and the plants were successfully transferred to the greenhouse. Zephyranthes reproduction Different chromosome numbers have been reported for different species of Zephyranthes, which varies even among the same species (Table 3). The different chromosome numbers range from 2n = 18 to 96 (Raina and Khoshoo 1971b) and shows an interesting aneuploid-polyploid chromosomal polymorphism. Not only different chromosome numbers but even different cytotypes have been reported for different Zephyranthes species in a detailed study of chromosome sets accomplished by Coe (1954). He found different chromosome numbers and cytotypes among plants of Z. chlorosolen D. Dietr.; in a couple of plants he found 58 and 59 chromosomes, while in others the chromosome number was 48; interestingly, the chromosomes from the plants with 58 and 59 chromosomes were smaller than those with 48 chromosomes and the total length of the chromosomes in a cell of the 59-chromosome plant was not greater than those in a cell of a 48-chromosome plant. Furthermore, the chromosome set in a 48-chromosome plant was not represented by 24 pairs of homologous chromosomes but by 23 homologous pairs and 2 chromosomes without morphological homologues. Similarly, Z. drummondii D. Don presented chromosome numbers of 24 and 48 in the same plant; different chromosome sets of 48chromosome plants were constituted by 23 and 22 homologous chromosomes and 2 and 4 chromosomes without mor- Mexican geophytes II. A review of the genera Hymenocallis, Sprekelia and Zephyranthes. Tapia-Campos et al. Table 3 Chromosome numbers (2n) reported for Zephyranthes species. Species Synonym 2n Chromosome numbers Z. atamasco 24 Z. candida 19, 32, 38, 40 38 38, 40, 41 Z. chlosolen Z. brazosensis 48, 55, 56, 58, 59 Z. citrina Z. sulphurea 48 Z. drummondii Z. pedunculata 24, 48 Z. longifolia 24, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50 Z. aff. mesochloa 12 Z. minuta Z. grandiflora 24 24 24 48 Z. puertoricensis Z. tubispatha 24 25 Z. rosea 24 Z. aff stellaris 20 Z. taubii 24 phological homologues, respectively. The most probable basic number of the genus is x = 6. (Flory 1968; Raina and Khoshoo 1971; Flory 1977; Meerow et al. 1999) although x = 5 has also been proposed (Daviña and Fernandez 1989). To determine whether 6 or 5 is the basic chromosome number of the genus, meiotic studies had to be performed, though meiotic analyses are scarce due to the difficulty of obtaining meiotic cells as the flowers develop inside the bulbs and the bulb has to be destroyed to obtain the flower buds and it is not possible to know in advance the meiotic stage of the cells. In a cytological study of reproduction in Z. drummondii (Coe 1953) the microsporogenesis analyses revealed several abnormalities such as precocious chromosomes, bridges and fragments, non-disjunctions and chromosome eliminations; despite all the irregularities observed, the pollen fertility was about 91%. The more interesting abnormality was the clumpling of multivalent formations, containing more than 20 chromosomes in some cases. Tohibi Devi and Borua (1997) reported trivalent, quadrivalent and pentavalent associations in microsporogenesis analyses of Z. minuta D. Dietr. and Z. candida and low fertility in pollen germination. It seems that such abnormalities are common in Zephyranthes species; in a study of the pollen grain mitosis in Z. puertoricensis, Traub the chromosome numbers ranged from n = 1–16 (Raina and Khoshoo 1971), where those with less than 6 chromosomes might not be fertile, but those with 6 or more might be able to generate odd chromosome numbers. In the genus Lilium (2n = 2x = 24), triploid hybrids (2n = 3x = 36) were able to produce progeny, however, the chromosome numbers of the progeny was, in some cases, aneuploid, due to the production of pollen with odd chromosome numbers (Barba-Gonzalez et al. 2006). Despite all the abnormalities in meiosis, the pollen fertility does not seem to be affected. In a pollen fertility screening of different cytotypes of Zephyranthes whose chromosome numbers ranged from 24 to 73, all of them were fertile to some degree, from a maximum of 95% in those cytotypes with 48 chromosomes to 30% in those with 24 (Raina and Khoshoo 1972a). Kapoor and Tandon (1963) analyzed the endosperm formation in Z .minuta (2n = 24) (= Z. grandiflora; World Check List of Selected Plant Families) which had an endosperm of 3n = 36. Cytological studies performed in Z. drummondii D.Don (= Cooperia pedunculata Herb.); World Check List of Selected Species) showed that it is a pseudogamous apomictic and that the occurrence of semigamy is frequent. Pollination is a pre-requisite for the setting of seed (Coe 1953). In addition to the apomictic condition of some Zephyranthes it seem that species with styles longer than the filaments are self-incompatible, those with styles shorter than the filaments are self-compatible and those with styles 135 Reference Radford et al. 1968 Tohibi Devi and Borua 1997 Yokouchi 1965 Raina and Khoshoo 1972a Coe 1954 Raina and Khoshoo 1972c Coe 1954 Coe 1954 Daviña and Fernandez 1989 Tohibi Devi and Borua 1997 Kaboor and Tandom 1963 Raina and Khoshoo 1972a Coe 1954 Raina and Khoshoo 1972a Raina and Khoshoo 1971 Raina and Khoshoo 1972a Daviña and Fernandez 1989 Coe 1954 more or less equal to the length of the filaments are selfincompatible (Raina and Khoshoo 1972c). However, this seems not to be the rule as in the case of Z. atamasco, a long-styled species is reported to be fully self-compatible (Broyles and Wyatt 1991). One of the closest relatives of Zephyranthes is the genus Habranthus (Meerow et al. 1999) where chromosomal numbers of 12 and 18 are found (Felix et al. 2008). Considering these numbers, the aneusomaty (Coe 1954), the multivalent formation and all the abnormalities during meiosis (Coe 1953; Tohibi Devi and Borua 1997) present in different species of the genus Zephyranthes, it is clear that the genus has polyploidy, ranging from 2x to 16x with a basic number of x = 6 (Raina and Khoshoo 1972a). All this, coupled with self-compatibility / incompatibility and sexual apomictic reproduction, together with hybridization and polyploidy, the production of sex cells with a wide range of numbers, tolerated due to the inherent polyploidy constitution, has lead to a cycle of aneuploid variability, with a genetic system in the genus with the potential to conserve and preserve all heterozygosity through agamospermy and in particular through vegetative multiplication (Raina and Khoshoo 1972c). Zephyranthes breeding There are many traits that are pursued in Zephyranthes breeding, these include ruffled petals, bronze foliage, fragrance, colors of varying intensity (ranging from apricot to salmon, orange, cherry red and purple), stripes, picotees, bicolours as well as flowers that remain open for as long as 3 days (RoyChowdhury and Hubstenberger 2006) Many Zephyranthes species are apomictic [Z. primulina, katheriniae L.B. Spencer, macrosiphon Baker, citrina, longifolia Hemsl., pulchella J.G. Sm. are apomictic (Roy Chowdhury and Hubstenberger 2006)]. This trait is inheritable (RoyChowdhury and Hubstenberger 2006), and is seen as a desirable character in breeding programs, because once a cultivar is established it will produce many seeds and the progeny will be genetically identical to the mother plant. On the other hand, when breeding for new traits, the apomictic species have a drawback when used as female parents because the crosses will always be successful, but never produce hybrid seed (RoyChowdhury and Hubstenberger 2006). For this reason, identified apomictic species are utilized as male parents. There are many Zephyranthes intra- and interspecific hybrids. Perhaps the most well known hybrid is ‘Ajax’, which is a cross between Z. candida x Z. citrina (Knox 2009), but is not an ‘easy to find’ hybrid these days. After ‘Ajax’ another popular hybrid is the trihybrid ‘Grandjax’ from the cross between Z. grandiflora x Z. ‘Ajax’. Like these hybrids, many others have been produced, but in most Floriculture and Ornamental Biotechnology 6 (Special Issue 1), 129-139 ©2012 Global Science Books of them the lineages are not clear. There are a few hybridization programs that can be mentioned, among them are the hybrids developed by RoyChowdhury and Hubstenberger (2006), who utilized 44 different female parents, including botanical species and hybrid (some of them interspecific) and trihybrid cultivars such as [(Z. candida x Z. citrina) x Z. macrosiphon). The 44 female parents were crossed with 46 male parents, in total 215 crosses were performed of which 41% (87) were successful. Within these crosses 34 out of the 44 female parents made at least one fertile cross. Chu (2009) produced a series of interesting hybrids, where different color combinations were obtained in which selfing of different species was proven in the production of these hybrids; Z. citrina yielded seeds in 100% of the self-pollinations, while Z. rosea, Z. candida and Z. grandiflora (= Z. minuta; World Checklist of Selected Families) produced seeds in 22.6, 5.3 and 1.1% of the crosses, respectively. Successful interspecific crosses included Z. candida x Z. citrina; Z. citrina x Z. candida, Z. minuta and Z. rosea. Selfing of the F1 generation were performed with success. BC1 crosses were performed as follows: Z. candida x (Z. candida x Z. citrina); (Z. citrina x Z. minuta) x Z. candida and (Z. citrina x Z. minuta) x Z. citrina. However, it is noticeable that in most of the crosses involving Z. citrina as maternal parent, the progeny resembled the maternal phenotype, suggesting that these plants might not true hybrids, but a product of the apomictic nature of Z. citrina. Fig. 3 Sprekelia formossisima. Photo: A. Rodriguez. SPREKELIA Biology and morphology Sprekelia Heist. (2n = 60, 120) is an herbaceous monocotyledonous genus of perennial bulbs of the Amaryllidaceae commonly known as ‘Aztec lily’ and ‘Jacobean lily’. The genus comprises two recognized species (World Checklist of Selected Species 2011) viz. Sprekelia formosissima (L.) Herb. and Sprekelia howardii Lehmiller; nevertheless other species are mentioned in literature, however it may be a monotypic genus and the mentioned species are variants of S. formosissima (Fig. 3) (Rodriguez-Contreras A, Instituto de Botanica y Zoologia, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico, pers. comm.). It is cultured worldwide as a pot plant. Its introduction to Europe can be traced back to the end of the 16th century, when it was known as ‘Narcissus Indicus Jacobeus’ (Ramon-Laca Menendez de Luarca 1997). It has a zygomorphic perianth adapted for hummingbird pollination (Meerow et al. 2000). The flower stems are 4070 cm high, sometimes reaching 90 cm; they are orchidshaped and occur in various shades of red (Howard 2001), often with a white line in the center of the tepals and sometimes with white borders on tepals 1, 3 and 5. Two groups have been described, the first with wide perennial leaves and the second with thin deciduous leaves (Borys et al. 2005b). The leaves are sometimes glaucous. It is distributed from the North of Mexico from Chihuahua to the south in the state of Oaxaca (Howard 2001). It belongs to the Zephyranthinae subtribe of the Hippeastrae tribe, of the American clade. It is a sister genus to Zephyranthes to which it is closely related (Meerow et al. 1999). Sprekelia propagation and culture Plants of Sprekelia grow in a wide variety of soils, from deep to shallow, clayish, sandy or rocky, and from temperate to dry and hot climates (Borys et al. 2005b). Naturally it grows among xeric bushes, among rocks in oak forests and disturbed places, from 750 to 2700 m (OrtizMedina 1996). Flowering of Sprekelia is reported to occur from April to July, however, under irrigation it can be extended to August, (Borys and Leszczynska-Borys 1999). The bulbs have a dormancy period in winter and spring, which can be overcome by dry storage for a few weeks after 136 flowering (Lozano 1992). The traditional propagation of Sprekelia is through bulb division and occasionally by seeds; bulb division is preferred because bulb maturity takes up to four years when grown from seed. An average of 85% germination of S. formosissima seeds was reported in temperatures ranging from 10-35°C, it took four days at temperatures ranging from 20-25°C, however, at extreme temperatures (10-15°C and 30-35°C) the germination percentage decreased slightly and the days to germinate increased (Borys et al. 2005c). Besides traditional propagation, micropropagation of Sprekelia has been achieved with 83% survival utilizing small bulbs established in vitro, cultured in media containing MS inorganic salts, supplemented with 100 mg L-1 myo-inositol, 0.4 mg L-1 thiamine, 1.0 mg L-1 pyridoxine, 1.0 mg L-1 niacin, 0.4 mg L-1 glycine, 80 mg L-1 adenine sulphate, 20 μm 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 3% sucrose. The bulblet growth was promoted by subculturing the bulblets in the same media without the adenine sulphate and the BA, with a sucrose concentration of 5%. The bulbs were rooted in a medium containing MS inorganic salts, supplemented with 100 mg L-1 myo-inositol, 0.4 mg L-1 thiamine, 1.0 mg L-1 pyridoxine, 1.0 mg L-1 niacin, 0.4 mg L-1 glycine, 0.2 mg L-1 IBA and 3% sucrose (Cazarez-Prado et al. 2010). Sprekelia breeding Several Sprekelia cultivars have been released to the market, ‘Orient Red’ is considered to be one of the best cultivars, which flowers with the first rains and is able to flower again in the fall (Howard 2001). Besides the intra-specific hybrids, perhaps one of the most interesting features of Sprekelia is the relative ease that it is hybridized with other genera. Several intergeneric hybrids have been reported, such as i) Hippeastrum x Sprekelia = x Hippeastrelia, whose chromosome number has been doubled in vitro to restore fertility (Van Tuyl pers. comm.); among this group there are complicated crosses such as (H. papilio (Ravenna) Van Scheepen x H. fragrantissimum (Cárdenas) Meerow) x Sprekelia formosissima (Fellers 1998); ‘Mystique’ is a remarkable hybrid because the plant sets fertile seeds (Howard 2001) and Sprekelia x Habranthus = x Sprekanthus Traub. Recently, another intergeneric hybrid has been reported as x Sprekelianthes Lehmiller, this is the result of a cross of Sprekelia formosissima x Zephyranthes traubii; the bigene- Mexican geophytes II. A review of the genera Hymenocallis, Sprekelia and Zephyranthes. Tapia-Campos et al. (+)-8-O-demethylmaritidine 1-O-acetylpseudolycorine 4,5-dehydro-anhydrolycorine 4,5-dehydro-anhydropseudolycorine 7-deoxynarciclasine 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine 11-Hydroxyvittatine N-demethylgalanthamine Anhydrolycorine Anhydro-pseudolycorine Caranine Galanthamine isomer Galanthine Haemanthidine Haemanthamine Hippeasterine Lycoramine Lycorine Narciclasine Narcissidine Nerinine Pancratistatin Pseudolycorine Tazettine H. venezuelensis H. tubiflora H. speciosa H. sonorensis H. rotata H. lobata Hymenocallis species H. latifolia H. littoralis H. harrisiana H. bolivariana Table 4 Alkaloids present in different species of the genus Hymenocallis. Alkaloids +9 +8 +8 +8 +5,7 +5,7 +9 +8 +8 +5 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +8 +2 + 8 +8 +2 +2 +2 +8 +4 + 9 + 4 +8 +1 +1 +1 +1 1 1 +8 + 2 9 + +5,7 + + +6 +6 + 8 +8 +8 +2 + 3,5,7 +2 +2 + 6 + 6 +1 +6 +8 + 4 +8 + 1 + +8 1 The superscript refers to the bibliographic source as follows: 1 Boit 1958; 2 Boit 1960; 3 Backhaus et al. 1992; 4 Antoun 1993; 5 Petit et al. 1993; 6 Petiti et al. 1995; 7 Idso et al. 2000; 8 Rivero et al. 2004; 9 Abou-Donia 2008. ric hybrid resembles Sprekelia, it displays the same characteristics, but its dimension is about half the size of Sprekelia (Lehmiller 2003-2004). It is argued that the relative ease of Sprekelia hybridization with the above-mentioned genera is due to its taxonomic proximity. Meerow et al. (1999) groups the genus Sprekelia in the Hippeastrae tribe, together with Habranthus, Zephyranthes, Hippeastrum, Rhodophiala and Traubia. ALKALOIDS OF HYMENOCALLIS, SPREKELIA AND ZEPHYRANTHES Besides the ornamental importance of the genera, several genera of the Amaryllidaceae are of pharmaceutical importance due to their alkaloid content. Alkaloids are groups of complex heterocyclic nitrogen compounds, which have strong physiological activity, are often toxic, and retain their own basic chemical properties’ (Aniszewski 2007). The alkaloids of the Amaryllidaceae are a group of isoquinoline alkaloids, produced almost solely by members of this family. These alkaloids have attracted considerable amount of interest due to some important pharmacological activities they have been shown to possess (Unver 2007). There are many different L-tyrosine-derived alkaloids present in the genus Hymenocallis where at least 24 alkaloids have been reported (Table 4) (Boit and Döpke 1958, 1960; Backhaus 1992; Antoun et al. 1993; Pettit et al. 1993, 1995; Idso et al. 2000; Rivero et al. 2004; Abou-Donia et al. 2008); in the genus Zephyranthes there are 18 reported alkaloids and 7 for Sprekelia formosissima (Table 5) (Pettit 1984; Pettit et al. 1990; Gabrielsen et al. 1992; Hohmann 2002; Mutsuga 2002; Kaur et al. 2007; Unver 2007; Wu et al. 2009a, 2009b, 2010). These alkaloids have a wide range of biological activities, they are known to have analgesic, cytotoxic activity against various human tumoral cell lines, and anti-malarial, antineoplastic and display effects on the central nervous system (Aniszewski 2007). Among the different alkaloids 137 present in the genera Hymenocallis, Zephyranthes and Sprekelia the lycorine-type alkaloids are particularly important for Alzheimer’s disease. Other alkaloids present in the different genera have been useful in the treatment of tumors, breast cancer, diabetes mellitus and human epidermoid carcinoma as well as other anti-cancer activities (Pettit 1984; Kaur et al. 2007). Alkaloids from Z. carinata Herb. induced apoptosis in tumor cells by blocking the progression of the cell cycle at G0/G1 and S phases; and Z. candida was found to contain trans-dihydronarciclasine, a cytostatic constituent utilized for leukemia treatment (Pettit et al. 1990). Also, the alkaloids in these genera present antiviral activity and in vitro inhibition of poxvirus (Gabrielsen et al. 1992; Mutsuga 2002). In addition to the alkaloids and other substances obtained from bulbs and seeds of the genus Zephyranthes, six ceramides have recently been identified in Z. candida: candidamide A and B, zephyrantnamide A, B, C and D. These are the first reported for the Amaryllidaceae. The importance of ceramides lies in its role as signalling molecules involved, among other functions, in programmed cell death and apoptosis. Candidamide A and B displayed moderate activities against bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and fungi Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum (Wu et al. 2009a, 2009b, 2010). CONCLUSIONS The genera Hymenocallis, Sprekelia and Zephyranthes offer great potential as ornamental plants and many cultivars and hybrids are already present in the market. However, the addition of Mexican species for breeding programmes would provide genetic variability resulting in novel cultivars with interesting ornamental traits of importance. These three genera are related and interspecific hybridization as well as intergeneric hybridization is possible. The inclusion of other related genera, such as Habranthus could speed up the breeding process. The development of micropropagation Floriculture and Ornamental Biotechnology 6 (Special Issue 1), 129-139 ©2012 Global Science Books Table 5 Alkaloids present in different Zephyranthes and Sprekelia species. Alkaloids Z. candida Z. carinata Z. citrina l-O-(3-hydroxybutyryl)pancratistatin l-O-(3-O--O-glucopyranosylbutyryl)pancratistatin 3-epimacrinine 7-deoxynarciclasine 8-O-demethylmaritidine Crinamine Crinidine Epimaritidine Galanthine Haemanthamine Haemanthidine Ismine Lycorenine Lycorine Maritidine Narcissidine Nerinine Oxomaritidine Pancracine Pancratistatin Pretazettine Tazettine trans-dihydronarciclasine Vittatine Species Z. minuta Z. rosea ‘Ajax’ (Z. candida x Z. Citrina) Sprekelia formossisima +5 +5 +6 +4 +6 +2 +1 +2 +8 +3,8 +3 +8 +7 +7 +2 +7 +7 +7 +2 +1 +6 +6 +6 +1 +1 +1 +3 +7 +7 +8 +4 +3 +4 +1 +6 +6 +7 The superscript refers to the bibliographic source as follows: 1 Boit and Döpke 1961; 2 Ghosal and Razdan 1985; 3 Petit et al 1990; 4 Gabrielsen et al 1992; 5 Kojima et al 1998; 6 Hohmann et al . 2002; 7 Aniszewski 2007; 8 Wu et al 2009 techniques in the different genera should speed the development of new varieties. Basic, as well as applied research must be performed in order to understand the complicated chromosomal segregation, especially in the genus Zephyranthes. This research might help to unravel the mystery of the family origin in the Americas. There are many species of the different genera that must be domesticated to become part of breeding programmes; research has been conducted regarding the phenology of several species, however future research must be conducted to determine the phenology of species that are not commercially known. Boit H-G, Döpke W, Stender W (1958) Alkaloide aus Hippeastrum rutilum, Lycoris albiflora, Zephyranthes andersoniana und Sternbergia fischeriana. Die Naturwissenschaften 45, 390 Boit H-G, Döpke W (1961) Alkaloide aus Haemanthus-, Zephyranthes-, Galanthus-und Crinum-Arten. Die Naturwissenschaften 48, 406-407 Borys MW, Leszczynska-Borys H, Galvan JL (1999) Observations on flowering in Sprekelia formossisima (L.) Herbert. Revista Chapingo Serie Horticultura 5, 153-158 Borys MW, Leszczynska-Borys H, Galvan JL (2005a) Hymenocallis Salisb. germination variants and seedling yield. Acta Horticulturae 673, 191-198 Borys MW, Leszczynska-Borys H, Galvan JL (2005b) Variants in Sprekelia formossisima (L.) Heber. In: 51st Annual Meeting – Interamerican Society for Tropical Horticulture. 10-14 October, Boca Chica, Republica Dominicana (Abstract) Borys MW, Leszczynska-Borys H, Galvan JL (2005c) Seeds germination of ornamental related to constant temperature. In: 51st Annual Meeting – Interamerican Society for Tropical Horticulture. 10-14 October, Boca Chica, Republica Dominicana (Abstract) Borys MW, Leszczynska-Borys H, Galvan JL (2008) Variants in Hymenocallis Salisb. Acta Horticulturae 766, 391-398 Borys MW, Leszczynska-Borys H, Galvan JL (2009) Hymenocallis Salisb. – Bulbs reactions to applied temperatures. Acta Horticulturae 813, 631-636 Broyles SB, Wyatt R (1991) The breeding system of Zephyranthes atamasco (Amaryllidaceae). Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 118, 137-140 Castillo-Campos G, Medina-Abreo ME, Davila-Aranda PD, Zavala-Hurtado JA (2005) Contribución al conocimiento del endemismo de la flora vascular en Veracruz, México. Acta Botanica Mexicana 73, 19-57 Cazarez-Prado M, Andrade-Rodriguez M, Villegas-Monter A, Alia-Tejacal I, Villegas-Torres OG, Lopez-Martinez V (2010) In vitro propagation of Sprekelia formossisima Herbert., a wild plant with ornamental potential. Revista Fitotecnia Mexicana 33, 197-203 Chu C-Y (2009) Interspecific hybridization of Zephyranthes. MSc thesis. National Chung Husing University. Taiwan. (Abstract) Coe GE (1953) Cytology of reproduction in Cooperia pedunculata. American Journal of Botany 40, 335-343 Coe GE (1954) Chromosome numbers and morphology in Habranthus and Zephyranthes. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 81, 141-148 Daviña JR, Fernandez A (1989) Karyotype and meiotic behavior in Zephyranthes (Amaryllidaceae) from South America. 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