Chrysanthemum

The autumn-flowering garden Chrysanthemum (C. morifolium Ramat.) is an important flower crop throughout the world. It has earned tremendous popularity as a flower for the garden and as a cut flower for interior decoration or for greenhouse or conservatory display. The genus constitutes a large polyploid complex ranging from 2x to 22x, besides a number of aneuploids. The genetic diversity of chrysanthemum plays a very important role in developing new and novel desired forms through breeding and selection. All the present-day colorful varieties have been developed through complex interspecific crosses among elemental species, open pollination, indiscriminate intervarietal hybridization, spontaneous and induced mutation, and selection and management of chimera. The possibilities for creating different forms and improving chrysanthemum are infinite, and a breeder will always have future goals to work toward. This chapter will provide maximum information generated in India on different aspects along with important publications.