Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum grandiflorum, sym. Chrysanthemum morifolium) is a leading ornamental species in garden and cut flower.The aims of this study were to find the genetic mechanism of salt tolerance of relative genera species of chrysanthemum, which will provide an experimental basis for choosing and breeding salt tolerant germplasm. In allied genera of chrysanthemum, many wild species possess elite attributes such as resistance to disease, insect, virus and abiotic stresses, Crossostephium chinense is one of them. But it is usually difficult to obtain hybrids between Crossostephium chinense and chrysanthemum cultivars. Bridge parent is an effective way to overcome the barriers of wild hybridization and transfer useful genetic variation to elite germplasm. The F1 progeny of Chrysanthemum crassum (Kitam. Kitam.×Crossostephium chinense (L.) Makino, as bridge parent, was crossed with Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Han 2', then the progenies were obtained successfully. The salt tolerance of plants is a complex physiological process, but morphological changes is the most direct reflection of the stress, so salt harm index is often used as an important indicator of tolerance identification. Based on the salt harm index, salt tolerance inheritance of F₁ population was investigated by single generation segregation analysis method of the mixed major gene plus polygene mixed inheritance model of quantitative traits under the treatment by the concentration of NaCl 120 mmol/L. The results showed that the transgressive segregation of salt tolerance commonly existed in F₁ progenies; the salt harm index ranged from 3.33% to 96.67%, the phenotypic coefficient of variability was 53.63%, mid-parent heterosis was 2.47, did not reach a significant level. According to the data, F₁ population could be divided into high salt tolerant, salt tolerant, middle tolerant, sensitivity, and high sensitivity grade, respectively, in which 14.52% are high salt tolerant, 38.70% are salt tolerant, 30.65% are middle tolerant, 9.68% are sensitive, 6.45% are high sensitive. Based on the vaules of AIC and the tests for goodness _ of-fit under different models, salt tolerance of relative genera species of chrysanthemum was accorded with B-2 model with additive-dominant effect, additive and dominant effect of the first major gene were 18.06,-17.99; additive and dominant effect of the second major gene were 19.13,-1.44. The heritability of major genes for salt tolerance was 61.4%. These data indicated that the F1 progeny of the intergeneric, as bridge parent, crossed with chrysanthemum to innovate salt tolerant chrysanthemum germplasm is practicable. Two major genes with dominantly additive gene effects were detected for salt tolerance in relative genera species of chrysanthemum. The heritability of the major genes was high, so the salt tolerance can be screened in the earlier generation. This study just takes a single generation genetic analysis for the salt tolerance in relative genera species of chrysanthemum and failed to detect the presence of multiple genes control or estimate the impact of environmental factors on salt tolerance, but detection of these major genes controlling the salt tolerance traits would provide a theoretical basis for the further study of QTL analysis and molecular marker assisted breeding program for salt tolerance traits in chrysanthemum.