Re: Thoughts for the day
- To: hosta-open@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Thoughts for the day
- From: h*@open.org
- Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 02:07:37 -0800 (PST)
Mary:
>I don't know the answer but then I have never been able to convince
>myself that a red hosta is what I want anyway.
Actually, a red leafed hosta should be possible through conventional
plant breeding as red petioles are present in the germplasm base.
However, there appears to be mechanisms in place that make it
difficult to develop a red leaf as color variegations tend to reduce
photosynthesis and thus these plants are at a selective disadvantage.
>Here in the South the red petioles only last until the heat arrives.
>Some become a muddy brown and others just fade away.
That has to do with a lot of modifier genes. Anthocyanidin pigment
production has a lot of modifier genes that effect which specific
anthocyanidin is produced, the amount produced and many of these genes
are also temperature sensitive. I don't know if it is universal, but
every anthocyanidin pigmentation system that I've looked at has some
inhibitor genes that effect the presence or absence of pigment. There
are also genes that effect pigment distribution. I have one seedling
that has red petioles in a spotted pattern. We know the genes for red
anthocyanidin is present in hostas, probably cyanidin, because we see
red petioles. I also have some seedlings with some pink in the roots,
so if I can get roots with anthocyanidin in them, or other red
pigment, I don't see why it shouldn't be possible to get red leaves.
Who knows if red pigmented hostas will be useful or not - that will
depend on how stable the pigment is, but it sure will make hosts
hybridizing more interesting.
Joe Halinar
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