Re: Purple-Based Foliage
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: Purple-Based Foliage
- From: Z*@aol.com
- Date: Sun, 12 Jan 1997 08:29:24 -0700 (MST)
In a message dated 97-01-08 17:19:01 EST, you write:
<< With so many people and a wide variety of growing conditions, I think we
have a
good chance to confirm or refute the value of purple-based foliage as an
indicator of hardiness. >>
Dear Sharon,
I hate to be a party "pooper", but I have to agree with Rick that the
corolation of PBF and hardiness is a non-starter. Some of the best PBF TBs
come out of California and they don't like to go dormant in the winter. The
Schreiners have worked for decades selecting breeding stock for winter
dormancy. If the foliage dies back to the ground, and the iris comes back
with vigor the next spring, then you have dependable winter hardiness.
PBF is a dominant and can quickly be spread thoughout the seedling patch.
Thus, there's no reason to connect it with hardiness. I know someone is
thinking "what about genetic linkage" ( e.g. PBF and hardiness genetically
tied together) I'm not a geneticist, but I think linkage is usually related
to recessive characteristics.
There is PBF in many of the winter hardy species, I. variegata, I. aphylla,
and I.croatica to name the ones I'm acquained with. However, the
significant growing trait they all have is -Their foliage dies back. I'm
going to do some hardiness crosses to these species and will select breeding
stock based on foliage "die back", not PBF.
All the snowy best; Brad Kasperek ZEBRAIRIS@aol.com
