Re: RE: HYB: traits - short vs stunted

In a message dated 11/10/2003 6:22:04 AM Central Standard Time, 
lmann@volfirst.net writes:

> Do crosses between short and tall parents produce some short &some
> tall or mostly average? 

Linda, I've not kept records on this, but I do know that genetics go back 
several generations.  It would seem that you should get a variety of heights 
based on the accumulated background.  A cross between IMMORTALITY & CHAMPAGNE 
ELEGANCE produced strong seedlings and most were medium to tall.  More like CE 
than IM. Can't remember which was the pod parent and my books are still buried in 
a sea of boxes!  (Had the box marked but still can't find it.) 

FEEDBACK tends to produce short seedlings when used as the pod parent.  I 
used it on a red seedling of mine to get TARA's CHOICE (2004) and got the height 
from the seedling.  Even though it is rather old now, FEEDBACK is still great 
for passing on rebloom and has that preferred red beard (throat).  If I use it 
again, it will be the pollen parent.  

It seems to me that when you mix short and tall you get a wide variety of 
heights.  However, even some short x short produce tall seedlings . . . one of my 
famous 'it got away' children was IMM x CORN HARVEST.  I let it go because it 
had rather old form.  I should have kept it because it had yellow standards 
and purple falls with great branching and consistent good height.  Memory says 
34 to 36 which it about average. That's fall blooms too.  

My advice would be to follow the advice of hybridizers I 'bugged' years ago.  
Choose your pod parent based on height and branching.  If you want tall 
seedlings, then use tall irises as the pod parents.  They seem to have more effect 
on the seedlings by a small percentage.  I don't remember the numbers.  Not 
much of a numbers person. 

Having stated my opinion . . . if a cross presents itself, I make it!  Maybe, 
I'd waste less time, if I followed my own advice!   

Betty W. in South-central KY Zone 6

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