Re: breeding 6 fall irises

  I have been
crossing 'Batik' to 'Six Pack' this yr. Trying to get that splatter appearance 
in a flat. Probably a huge shot in the dark...


David
There very well could be several sets of genes controlling 6 Falls. That is a different set in different cultivars. Only experimentation will determine this.
With recessive genes, recovering the recessive in F2 would be about one out of 36. Batik is a plicata ( a recessive) with unknown allele type (thet is how many glaciata, luminata and classic plicata alleles) as well as having the genetic factor that combines with plicata genes to produce a broken colour. It often produces around 1/3 of seedlings of BC when crossing BC X regular plicata , but can sometimes produce no BC in this type of cross.
So you will need to make a very long cross to pull this one off. To get a plicata that is flat will be about 1 out of 1296 will have plicata plus be flat. Following usuall odds of BC, you would need about 3-4000 seedlings to get a chance of getting one BC, again depending on particular alleles of plicata not being relevant. Many more if it is relevant.
Probably will need to pick best flat and cross to any other F2 siblings having plicata or BC. Then have to work on impoving form and plant habits.
Best of luck. Hope you have lots of garden room. A noble chalenge. Kep us posted. 

Chuck Chapman

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