Collection and evaluation of the genus Lilium resources in Northeast China

Northeast China is known as an important distribution region of the genus Lilium, with ten native species reported among the 55 species found in the whole country so far. This paper is about the distribution, collection, classification and evaluation of the Lilium germplasm collected from this area. The accessions were identified and classified into six species and three variants, including Lilium lancifolium Thunb., L. pumilum DC., L. dauricum Ker-Gawl, L. cernuum Komar., L. amabile Palib., L. distichum Nakai, L. concolor Salisb. var. buschianum (Lodd.) Baker, L. concolor Salisb. var. megalanthum Wang et Tang, and L. leichtlinii Hook. f. var. maximowiczii (Regel) Baker. Nevertheless, the species L. callosum Sieb. has not been collected by now. Chromosome counts showed that L. lancifolium was triploid (2n = 3x = 36) and the other species were diploid (2n = 2x = 24). Besides L. distichum, chromosome number variations were observed in the root-tip cells among the other eight species. Haploid cells (2n = x = 12) were discovered in L. lancifolium. B-chromosomes were observed in L. lancifolium, L. dauricum, L. pumilum, L. concolor var. buschianum and L. concolor var. megalanthum. The analytic hierarchy process was employed to evaluate ornamental characteristics and potential utilization of nine identified species. It seemed that L. lancifolium, L. cernuum, L. pumilum and L. concolor var. buschianum had better ornamental value and utilization potential than others.