Re: Germination of Iris foetidissima

In a message dated 97-01-22 10:54:17 EST, you write:

>The
>question I am mulling is, of course, whether there may be a potential for
>variation in germination requirements within a species determined by the
>climate in which the seed source plant is grown. Would someone with some
>knowledge of botany please tell me if this is an entirely crackpot idea? 
>Anner Whitehead

Sounds entirely probable, but I don't know of any research that has shown
this to be true.  The whole strategy of germination inhibitors is to spread
germination over a long period of time in case growing conditions after
germination are not good.  That way, the probability of a few seeds
germinating and surviving is increased.  So it would make sense for there to
be quite a bit of variability in inhibitors and their response to
environmental conditions.  Cultivars that are highly inbred could possibly
have less variability and might be more 'determined' by climate.  Or maybe
the other way around, depending on whether presence of seed germination
inhibitors was linked to  other characteristics.

Hmm - species iris propagated by seeds could also become inbred, if only one
or two parent plants are growing at each SIGNA source.  Sort of like the
problem zoos have.

I only marginally know what I am talkng about, but what a fun question to
think about..

Linda Mann lmann76543@aol.com east Tennessee USA
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