HYB:germination rates

In a message dated 1/17/2006 8:37:33 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
waltseed2@yahoo.com writes:

<<As we compare different lines in different climates, we'll make  progress, 
or those who come after us will, progress both in iris for the  public, and 
for iris that are easier to start from  seeds.>>

Walt, 
 
 
The idea of different care for parents and seedlings makes good sense  to me! 
  

 
Indeed much iris progress has been achieved by back yard growers who lack  
the time or space to produce thousands of seedlings.  
 
Iris breeding, for the most part, is done to further some trait in the  bloom 
of the iris.  Creating a line of irises that produce early  germinating seed 
would simply be a byproduct under the current set  up.  It would take lots of 
money, time and funding to create this type of  breeding.  Perhaps a funded 
program?? This is based on personal  objectives and not meant to speak for iris 
hybridizers in general. 
 
From my perspective, and what I think I'm understanding from others, the  
need for early germination is based on the need for a large population of  
seedlings from a given set of parents at a given time.  It's the  difference between 
selecting the best from ten plants or selecting the best  from sixty plus 
plants, or more.  
 
There are several ways to achieve this goal.  
 
1)  Create more good seed.  (my favorite) 
2)  Allow pots to set from 2 or even 3 years until all seed have  germinated. 
Planting in soil would be more difficult due to  maintenance.  
3)  Or find a way to get a high germination rate from a limited number  of 
seed.
 
In my earlier years of breeding, many people helped me with advice.   One 
gentleman told me of going into a hybridizer's garden where the hybridizer  
produced many pods from the same cross.  I think the old theory that it  took 1000 
seedlings to produce 1 good plant came from this  practice.    
 
On a personal level, I've used all three methods, although I've never  
planted 1000 seed from one cross.  I once produced 243 seed, dropped some,  and only 
planted 235!  Have currently grown 92 to bloom and have 56 new  ones to see 
this spring.  It's been a great learning experience.  You  learn things you 
would never learn with a smaller number of seedlings.  I  highly recommend this 
for anyone that has the space.  It's especially  interesting with wider 
crosses.  
 
I use mum pots so I carry over the pots and plant 2nd year  germinates.  Lots 
blooming this spring so it will be exciting to compare  them to the 1st year 
germinates.  I'll be looking at them a bit differently  this year.  In the 
past, I looked at seedlings for individual  qualities.  Now, my view is broader.  
 
As to increased germination in the first year?  I'm interested  in almost 
anything that will allow planting outside in the mum pots.   I'm keeping pollen 
in the freezer, but that's as close as I want iris and my  refrigerator to get! 
 
 
Soil temperatures during germination are harder to control outside.   My 
thoughts (partly experience) on this is that shady spots and mulch help  regulate 
the temperature variations.  BUT . . . I'm still a little shaky  about when to 
take the mulch off and when to move the pots to a more sunny  location.  
During a year of very early germination I had seedlings three  inches long that 
were stuck in the mulch.  We're talking late  February.  (but I had a high 
germination rate.)  I might add that I've  returned to mulching this year after a 
few years of not mulching.  And I  have to adapt to this new location.    
 
Walt, do you have any insight into this phase?  Of course, each year  is 
different.  So much depends on Mother Nature.  But I can use any  and all 
suggestions!  
 
Make more crosses, grow more seed!  If you don't cross them, you can't  plant 
them!  <vbg>  
 
 
 

Betty W. in  South-central KY Zone 6
Bridge In Time Iris Garden@website:
_www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/_ 
(http://www.thegardensite.com/irises/bridgeintime/) 
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