Abstract: Chrysanthemum × morifolium Ramat., an exotic flower, originated in China, has spread throughout the world. During 1 600 years’ cultivation history, rich cultural connotation and horticulture cultivation techniques for this plant have emerged. Chrysanthemum is a miracle in the horticulture breeding history because it has almost 30 000 varieties. In the past 50 years , work on wild relatives and cultivation groups of chrysanthemum has involved study of morphology, cytotaxonomy , isozymes, DNA fingerprints, numerical taxonomy and cladistics. Despite much data on breeding of chrysanthemum, the quantity and quality of its resources are still inadequate as compared with its large number of cultivars. Especially, little study of traditional varieties restricts the development of industrialization of Chinese chrysanthemum. The collection, preservation, study and evaluation of chrysanthemum germplasm are important and involve much effort. Analysis of biological characteristics and genetic stability of ornamental characters, combined with modern biology techniques, is important to develop and use chrysanthemum variety resources.

Key words: Chrysanthemum × morifolium, development potenti al, genetic analysis, germplasm resources