Re: CULT: white 'reversions'
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: CULT: white 'reversions'
- From: "* a* C* W* <c*@digitalpla.net>
- Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1998 08:06:30 -0600 (MDT)
Linda Mann wrote:
> >>- maybe there is some insect vector of the dreaded 'white mutant gene'
> >that infects all colors of TB irises and causes all increases to be
> >white chimeric sports.......
and Paul Tyerman replied:
> Given that many of the variegated plants we have result from a virus (and
> this virus can actually be trasnferred from plant to plant by sap sucking
> insects
Linda and Paul,
I hope that we will exercise care not to propagate new "Garden Legends" or
reinforce old ones, even unintentionally. The original streaked or "broken"
color pattern in tulips that was so highly prized by the Dutch several
centuries back was the result of a viral infection. However, that does not
mean that variegation in other plants is the result of virus infection, and
indeed, there are modern streaked tulips that have been produced by
breeding, not disease. The broken color iris that have been bred in recent
times by Allen Ensminger, Brad Kasperek and others are the result of
selection for genetic effects, not the effect of infection. Let us not
inspire someone to contact Joe Spears with word that their field with
hundreds of beautiful solid-colored iris has gone all streaky!
Jeff Walters in northern Utah (USDA Zone 4, Sunset Zone 2)
cwalters@digitalpla.net
