hybridizing (was: Re: a little chromosome essay)

Gunnar asks

:What do you think are the  most important (astounding?) and common
:thing that has been achieved by the hybridization work?

In all time? Here's a short list:

1. The development of tetraploidy in tall bearded irises, which
enormously expanded the variety and breeding potential of the TBs.

2. The emergence (probably by mutation) of true pink in TBs.

3. The creation of the standard dwarfs by crossing TBs with pumila,
that has given rise to an incredible variety of dwarf and median irises.

4. The creation of fertile arilbreds by C.G.White.

5. A slow but general improvement in branching, bud count, and flower
form.

6. The pure proliferation of diversity. Thanks to hybridizing efforts,
there are now *many* more irises to choose from, depending on your
climate and preferences.

:
:Do you know if there are any special current projects?
:Are there any projects driven or sponsored or is encouraged by the AIS?
:Do you know if there are any plans for future project?

Mostly the individual hybridizers just follow their own interests. The
AIS's involvement is mostly after the fact, by bestowing awards.
:
:I for myself could think of a number of interesting areas to develop.
:Better hardiness, Higher disease resistance, getting scenting flowers or
:reblooming or longer flowering!
:
These are all admirable goals; many, many iris lovers have noted the
great need for work in these areas. Unfortunately, all of these are
somewhat "invisible" traits in our current system of judging, and don't
get the attention they merit.

:And could anyone tell me how the pollination is done (I think it is the same
:as I do with rhododendrons), but tell me anyway.

It is simply a matter of placing one flower's pollen on another's stigma.
A common mistake of beginners is to believe that the beard is the stigma.
The stigma is actually the moist "lip" on the style just below the crest.

Bearded irises are particularly easy to hybridize because, unlike many
plants, they only rarely set seed on their own, so most hybridizers do
not bother to "protect" their crosses by putting bags around the blooms
or something similar.

===============================================================

Tom Tadfor Little         tlittle@lanl.gov  -or-  telp@Rt66.com
technical writer/editor   Los Alamos National Laboratory
---------------------------------------------------------------
Telperion Productions     http://www.rt66.com/~telp/
===============================================================
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index