HYB: delayed germination & heredity

Another tidbit for thought - one of the "best" crosses (healthy
seedlings and higher germination rate than most) here has been
IMMORTALITY X CELEBRATION SONG.

The 31 survivors of the first batch of seedlings to germinate included 2
lavender selfs, one amoena rebloomer, half a dozen or so whites, the
rest various shades of cream or cream and white, including one
rebloomer.  I think there were around 40 seedlings that germinated first
year, but this was one of my first crosses and I wasn't taking notes.

There have been about a dozen survivors from the delayed germinants - 2
amoenas, the rest white, none cream or yellow, as I recall, tho a few
haven't bloomed yet.  No rebloom so far.  Last year was the first bloom
season for most of these.

Some of you have said that pinks and plicatas usually are easy to
germinate, so maybe all those yellows are capable of producing pinks
(have tt plus yellow/pink not hidden)?

Can someone make up a good story for me for why flower color would be
linked with ease of germination?  Easier to explain differences among
non-related seedlings, but not as obvious to me why this should be true
among sibs.

......Assuming it is true, and not just results from small sample size
and year to year variability.

Another cross that seems to show differences in delayed germination
seedlings was BEHOLD A LADY X CELEBRATION SONG.  This cross produced
mostly weak seedlings that died before getting big enough to line out.
Germination was much higher the second spring  I didn't take notes on
survival rate either year, but it was low both years.  Of those that did
survive, the ones from delayed germination are more robust - grow
faster, less prone to serious rot.

Again, small sample size, planted in a different part of the garden,
huge year to year variation in climate.

For what it's worth....
--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
East Tennessee Iris Society <http://www.korrnet.org/etis>
American Iris Society web site <http://www.irises.org>
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