Re: HYB:Diploid Irises with Arils and Arilbreds

Steve,

OYEZ is a very pretty little iris but despite many attempts by many people
has exhibited no fertility.  There has been, I think, one offspring, called
VOLUNTEER FIREMAN.  This was from a single seed from a volunteer pod, not a
deliberate pollination.  The pollen parent is unknown but VF looks a lot
like OYEZ so it could be a self-pollination.

This information may be out of date, so others feel free to chip in.

If diploid pure arils are used on diploid TBs, there should be a better
chance of seed set than if diploids were used with tetraploids in either
combination. But what would be gained?  The diploid TBs are so inferior to
modern tetraploids in nearly every way, the resulting hybrids might not be
terribly attractive.  With the many fertile tetraploid arils and high-aril
arilbreds available today, this seems like a retro plan to me.

I would think that a fun hybridizing program would be to use some the
high-aril tets on the very best modern TBs, to create new quarter-breds (or
quarter-bred-like plants) that might be more widely adapatable and would
still show aril character.  About 15 years ago, I dabbled in this for a
little while and got some very nice seedlings (but nothing to introduce)
from VICTORIA FALLS with various Henry Danielson tetraploid halfbreds.
Most were pretty powderblues with very broad form and often with dark blue
signals and dark blue beards.  Where they lacked was in branching and buds,
as one might expect.


Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<wshear@email.hsc.edu>
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