Re: HYB:CULT

Betty;

A year ago I would have said that seed from stressed plants would not affect the genes of the seedlings. For many years the concept of acquired characteristics was pooh poohed in genetics. If the parents had good genes then they should pass this on regardless of conditions. 

Recently there has been discovered what are called meta genes. What these do is to attach to the normal genes and modify their effect. These meta genes are produced by the parents when undergoing certain environmental stimuli and cane4 be passed on and endow there offspring with some potential to cope with the same type of stress. Therefore if this situation applies in this case (which we have yet to know) then the viable seeds may well be better adapted then even the parents. Maybe Lysenko the Russian geneticist who destroyed Russian agriculture wasn't totally wrong.

Philosophically this may lead to a few speculations. Perhaps a cross made in a harsher environment may produce better adapted progeny then the same cross made in an idyllic environment.----Bob Pries ( just getting settled in NC, already planting, but still unpacking the furniture).

----- Original Message -----
From: autmirislvr@aol.com
To: iris@hort.net
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 4:25:31 PM (GMT-0600) America/Chicago
Subject: [iris] HYB:CULT

Several times in the past, we've discussed the health of the pod parent 
as it relates to the seedlings.

Many of us have had several months of conditions not favorable to 
irises.  Freeze, drought, freeze, freeze, heat.

These plants have been stressed big time.

Can we expect decent seedlings from the pods we have  (assuming the 
parents are good,) or will their poor conditions doom these babies to 
poor genes?

Will the good genes kick in even if the conditions were poor?

Betty W.
Bridge In Time Irises
KY
Zone 6

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