Seedling Report

Tom writes (concerning the progeny of the F1 halfbred I described earlier):

<< What aril characteristics do the seedlings have? >>

A wide variety.  That's what I found so exciting.  Although I was hoping for
quality offspring, I was expecting greater uniformity.  I described the wide
range of colors in my earlier post. Overall patterns range from clear solid
colors, through intricate dotting and veining, to intense stippling.  Signals
ranged from subtle dots, through veined or stippled areas, to solid.  The
largest solid signal covered too much of the falls to be in attractive
proportions.   

Some examples of form:  

Nearly globular, with standards and falls equal in size.

Nearly elliptical, with vertical axis slightly longer than the horizontal axis,
and standards and falls equal.

Globular standards, slightly recurved falls, in the classic 2/3 to 1/3
proportion.

Reflexed, slightly ruffled standards and tucked falls.

"Pyramid" formed by tall, domed standards and wide, rounded  falls.


<<Are there characteristics you can attribute to the use of a modern TB in the
breeding? >>

I think the good form can, in part, be attributed to the modern TB in the line.
The TB form, as such, isn't readily apparent but the overall form is broader
than that of the typical halfbred.  Not all of the standards were ruffled but,
when they were, the ruffling seemed to be a bit more intense than usual.  So it
seems to be a matter of interaction and reinforcement of traits that can be
inherited from both sides of the "family"..  

BTW, this impressive amount of variation in color, pattern, and form did not
come from a single cross.  The conventional arilbreds I crossed with this F1
seedling to produce this group of seedlings were Casa Vicente (adobe with
burgundy beard & signal), Dot's Nice (white & yellow with nutmeg dotting and
veining), Let It Shine (bright yellow with near-black signal), Sandy Dandy
(golden-sand with burgundy-brown signal),  Special Guest (brick-red with large
near-black signal), & Whirling Thunder (smokey red-violet).

More, or less, than you wanted to know?

Sharon McAllister (73372.1745@compuserve.com)
Southern New Mexico -- wind-burned, sleep-deprived, but still smiling
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