Re: Subject: Colchicine / Iris suaveolens

> Colchicine was several times for Irises to convert diploid to tetraploid
> plants. Because I have no experience with this procedure I want to ask
> if someone could try to convert a diploid Iris melitta (suaveolens)
> rubra to a tetraploid one.

Martin,
Use(s) of colchicine is one of my favorite subjects. Though it has been
used extensively throughout the plant kingdom to induce tetraploidy,
there is no sure fire way to make it work. I would suggest you read
Currier McEwen's work on Siberian and Japanese irises as well as
Mertzweiller's summary of work on Louisana irises. Also read the article
in the AIS Bulletin (July 1997) by Sam Norris. To get an overview of how
colchicine is used in some other species, check out this site:

http://members.tripod.com/h_syriacus/tetraploidy.htm

Since most of the work with bearded irises was done in the 30's you'll
have to go back a way to find any references, but my understanding is
that modern TB's (which are all tetraploid) were not converted using
colchicine.

Though studying the ways that colchicine has been used may give you some
insight as to how it MIGHT be done, there are no clear parallels from
one species to the next, so you will be on your own. If you want to do
it, be prepared for some frustrating experiments. I speak from personal
experience.

Good Luck.

R. Dennis Hager
on Delmarva

 

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