RE: Tetraploids

Charles,

Tetraploids have a doubling of chromosomes (4X) which changes the plant
characteristics but generally does not affect fertility.  Diploid Hosta have
two sets of chromosomes (2X).  If you cross two tetraploids ((4X -> 2x) +
(4x -> 2x)) you get all tetraploid progeny (4x).  A selfed tetraploid is the
same as crossing two tetraploids.

If you cross tetraploid  (4x) to diploid (2x) you get all triploids((4x ->
2x) + (2x -> 1x) = (3x).  Triploids tend to be sterile as 3x -> aneuploid (a
mixture of 1x and 2x for each chromosome which does not work) or very rarely
to 1x or 2x.

Jim Anderson
WFTC



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-hosta-open@mallorn.com
[o*@mallorn.com]On Behalf Of ctuttle39@juno.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001 10:23 AM
To: PHOENIX_HOSTA_ROBIN@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM; hosta-open@mallorn.com
Subject: Tetraploids


I have what I believe to be a tetraploid in the garden.

Questions:
likelihood of being fertile?

What happens with seeds from selfed?  Will there be at least some
tetraploid seedlings? or a lot? or none?  How about crosses with non
tetraploids?

Would someone with experience please share some insight.

Thanks,
Charles
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE HOSTA-OPEN

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE HOSTA-OPEN
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index