Search for the ancestral species show pelargonium(Pelargonium *domesticum Bailey) by means of flower pigment analysis.

天竺葵属植物起源于南非，有250种。天竺葵（天竺葵属）的大多数栽培形式可分为四个园艺类，即，（1）带叶天竺葵属，（2）天竺葵属，（3）常春藤叶天竺葵属，（4）香叶天竺葵属，前三种作香料植物，后一种作香料植物，基本染色体数目为X= 8，9，10和11。包括过去工作的调查总结如下。(1)通过荧光显微镜观察和同工酶分析，发现天竺葵和香叶天竺葵的花粉管行为相似，而地带性天竺葵与这两类天竺葵的花粉管行为不同。(2)对天竺葵胚珠的发育过程进行了研究，并将其受精机理称为选择性受精。(3)利用花药培养技术获得单倍体植株，并研究其主要成分的变异。(4)通过气相色谱法对天竺葵属植物挥发油成分的分析，探讨了天竺葵属植物的种间变异和亲缘关系。(5)利用胚珠培养技术建立了天竺葵属种间杂交，并对显花天竺葵与香叶天竺葵杂交F1代的性状进行了研究。(6)研究了观赏天竺葵花色素组成与花瓣颜色的关系，并通过种间杂交改良观赏天竺葵的花色。(7)通过香叶天竺葵和天竺葵的种间杂交，将芳香物质导入天竺葵。(8)1995年10月至1996年1月，Fumika Kakihara在南非采集了基本染色体数目为X=11的野生种。

Pelargonium plants, which are originated in South Africa, have 250 species.Most of the cultivated forms of geranium (Pelargonium) may be grouped into four horticultural classes, i.e., (1)zonal geraniums, (2)show pelargoniums, (3)ivy-leaved geraniums, and (4) scented-leaved geraniums ; the former three are used as ornamentals and the last one as aromatics.Basic chromosome numbers are X=8,9,10 and 11. Investigation including past works was summarized below.(1) From the observation of the pollen tube behavior by means of the fluorescence microscope and isozyme analysis, the show pelargoniums and the scented-leaved geraniums were similar to each other, but the zonal geraniums were different from above two classes.(2) Developmental process of ovules in Pelargonium was investigated, and the mechanism of fertilization was named as selective fertilization.(3) Using the anther culture technique, haploid plants were obtained, and variation of their essential components was investigated.(4) From the analysis of essential oil components by gas chromatography, variation and genetic relationships among the Pelargonium species were estimated.(5) Interspecific hybridization in Pelargonium by means of ovule culture technique was established, and characteristics of many F1 hybrids between show pelargoniums and scented-leaved geraniums were investigated.(6) Relationship of anthocyanidin composition and color of petals in show pelargoniums were investigated, and improvement of flower color of show pelargonium was carried out by means of interspecific hybridization.(7) Introgression of fragrance into show pelargonium was carried out by means of interspecific hybridization between scented-leaved geraniums and show pelargoniums.(8) Collection of wild species having basic chromosome number X=11 was made in South Africa by Fumika Kakihara from Oct.1995 to Jan.1996.