Re: breeding 6 fall irises

My experience breeding from the 'New Perspective' line is that flat x flat  
gives 100% flat. I have bloomed about 300 seedlings of this type. However, 
there  is a variation in the expression of the character depending largely 
on the  growing conditions for the individual plant. Typically 'New 
Perspective' blooms  "normal" or partially converted the first year or sometimes just 
early in the  bloom season becoming flatter later. I think that there are 
several kinds of  flat tall beards and not all kinds are transmitted in the 
same way. 'Judy Mogul'  seems not to be a 'New Perspective' sort. The fact 
flowers show white  sections in the converted falls shows that it wants to be 
an amoena, but the  expression is altered by the flat factor. The fact that 
a flat is not  always flat can be a good thing. It is often these off type 
flowers are the only  ones with pollen and the only chance to breed from the 
variety. I think those  flat varieties which produce six good beards of the 
same size are the best  varieties to breed from.
 
I have good pods on 'New Perspective' with my flat intro for this year  
'Orbison' and I am looking forward to seeing the seedlings bloom.
 
The biggest problem with the flats, at least for me, is form. Usually the  
flats show up one in a cross so the chance of selecting good form  is highly 
problematic. This means that these sports need to be  cross with 3 fall 
type with great form, branching, etc. and back crossing these  seedlings 
together and with flats. Could take several generations to  get anything worth 
introducing. 
 
Some non-flat varieties will give flats when crossed with a flat. One way  
to find these is to study parentages of flats that come from non-flats.  
'Orbison' is from 'Diobolique' x ('World Tour' x 'Kathleen Kay Nelson').  
'Diabolique" might be related to 'Indigo Princess' which Mike mentioned.
 
Fred Kerr
Rainbow Acres
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