The "Luminata" gene is a very tricky beast, and is not what it first
seems to be. When we see a luminata patterned iris, the assumption is
that we are seeing a homozygous iris with four sets of pl-lu genes,
but this doesn't seem to be the situation. The coresponding assumption
is then made that the luminata gene is removing pigment from the veins.
Actually it would appear that the luminata pattern is a combination of
glaciata genes and luminata genes. Almost all crosses of luminata x
luminata produces some glaciata offspring. What I suspect is happening
is that the luminata gene is putting down the pigment and the glaciata
gene is trying to remove pigment and it starts with the veins and works
out from there. Based on this, I have a sneaking suspicion that a
homozygous luminata plant would be very very close to being a solid
colour, or perhaps a solid coloured flower. I have gotten some solid
coloured flowers from some of my luminata closses and I'm still trying
to sort out all the genetics involved. Corespondingly Luminata-plicatas
sem to have one gene each of luminata, glaciata and regular plicata
plus one extra copy of one of the other genes. The other , fourth gene,
can sometimes cause the seedling to have a solid colour, that is have
four plicata genes, but not show any plicata markings. I'm still trying
to work out all the details of this.
I do have a work in progress
article on all this that I can send to
people if they wish to pursue this
further, but it is not light
reading. Contact me off line if you wish to
get this article.
Chuck Chapman
Re: Legend of Camelot,
luminata?
Posted by: "smciris@aol.com"
smciris@aol.com
smcallister.geo
Mon
Mar 17, 2008 7:33 am (PDT)
In a message dated 3/17/2008 5:53:35 AM
Mountain Daylight Time,
lmann@lock-net.com
writes:
Margie, I'm pretty sure that isn't a luminata - my
understanding is
that
the characteristic of luminatas is that they
do have pigmented
veins in the throat - those purple veins mean it is
not luminata.
I sounds like you're thinking of a pure luminata, with no
plicata
genes.
The two alleles can coexist, producing a blended
effect in the flower.
The
white veining is indicative of the
luminata allele(s) and the purple
veins of
the plicata allele(s).
This is a striking example of what we used to
call a
"fancy
plicata", but to me "luminata-plicata" is a more descriptive
term.
Sharon McAllister
