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Re: all-white squash

Stephanie Green asked about a possibly albino squash that's coming up in her
garden right next to a bunch of regular green-looking squash seedlings.

Although I don't see how such a plant could photosynthesize absent
chlorophyll, I'd like Stephanie to leave it alone and let us know how it's
coming along for another week or two.

I'm under the impression that albinism occurs sort-of in plants in the form
of foliage that is all- or nearly all-white but located on plants that also
have normal green branches and foliage.  Propagators have been quick to jump
on such sport branches as potential genetic stock for breeding variegated
varieties.  Typically, the more white in the white-to-green ratio, the
frailer the plant.  But I'm sure that variegated ivies and pothos came into
being (and eventually into commerce) this way.  Probably the partly white
hostas, too.

A white-foliaged squash may have no horticultural interest, but I'm curious
to find out if such a plant can survive under its own power.

--Janet
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Janet Wintermute             jwintermute@ids2.idsonline.com

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