ObjectiveThe research on genetic information of crossing parents plays a guiding role in crossbreeding. Hybridization of Dendrobium had been performed for more than 150 years and 13 098 hybrids had been registered in Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) until September, 2017. By analyzing the relationships of cross-compatibility among different sections, this paper is to explore the breeding potential of native species, which would provide references for the selections of parents in Dendrobium breeding.

MethodIn this work, the resource status and breeding history progress of Dendrobium were reviewed. By inquiring the website of orchid registration which belongs to RHS and using the software of OrchidWiz, a pedigree analysis of the breeding process was made at the base of analyzing 80 species of Dendrobium which belonging to 13 sections in China.

ResultThe results indicated that Sect. Dendrobium, Sect. Callista, Sect. Formosae and Sect. Holochrysa were widely used in Dendrobium breeding. The backbone parents in Sect. Dendrobium were D. nobile, D. moniliforme, D. heterocarpum and D. parishii, in Sect. Callista were D. chrysotoxum, D. lindleyi, D. densiflorum, D. thyrsiflorum and D. jenkinsii, in Sect. Formosae were D. infundibulum, D. bellatulum, D. christyanum, D. trigonopus and D. cariniferum, in Sect. Holochrysa were D.capillipes and D. pulchellum.

ConclusionBased on strengthening the protection of native Dendrobium resources, we must fully develop and utilize excellent resources. In the meantime, according to different market demand, the excellent parents were crossbreed combined with intersection hybridization to cultivate excellent potted and cut Dendrobiums cultivars.