Vaccinium corymbodendron Dunal as a bridge between taxonomic sections and ploidies in Vaccinium: A work in progress

The species V. corymbodendron of section Pyxothamnus has shown value as a potential bridge between taxonomic sections and ploidies in Vaccinium when involved as either a first generation or second generation parent. Tetraploid V. corymbodendron has hybridized successfully with 2x and 4x section Cyanococcus species and with 2x section Vitis-idaea. Hybridizations with other sections are currently being tested. Second generation allotetraploid V. corymbodendron - V. vitis-idaea hybrids have hybridized successfully with 4x section Oxycoccus (cranberry), 4x section Cyanococcus (blueberry), and 2x section Vitis-idaea (lingonberry). It appears that these allotetraploid hybrids may allow gene movement among these diverse sections at the 4x level. Further test-crosses are being made to evaluate the range of crossability of 4x V. corymbodendron and the V. corymbodendron allotetraploids with other taxonomic sections of Ericaceae.