HYB:Line Breeding:101
Please know that I am not an expert. The things I present are the result of
a lot of research and an over active mind! Know that most of what I say is my
opinion, not scientific fact. Also . . . my work has all been with tall
bearded iris. Things I suggest may not apply with other types of irises.
A plea to the experts . . . please correct me when I make obvious or obscure
mistakes. My intention has been to get the talk going not to present myself
as an expert.
******** Line Breeding*********
Some people don't want to hybridize. They say, "What's the point? I'd
always be seven to ten years behind! By the time Schreiners, Blyth, or Keppel
introduce something, it's already at least seven years old. By the time I have
seedlings bloom from even first year crosses, the parents will be at least 10
years old! So why bother?"
Did you ever think of creating your own lines? Hager had his own lines.
Gatty had his own lines. Don't Schreiners have their own lines? So why shouldn't
you have your own lines? It beats having to depend on them for breeding
material all the time! ;-)
1) Set a goal. We've determined that you want to build a nice line of
pink irises. (Choose your own goal . . . this should work for any color, pattern,
etc.)
2) Buy the best 4 pink irises you can afford. If you've read much on
irises you've read this before, maybe even where I've written it. Here's a new
twist. Through research, try to make sure the 4 pink irises have different
ancestors. Using more modern pinks this shouldn't be hard. If your ultimate goal
is to improve the branching (insert trait of choice), make sure one of the
pinks you choose has this trait.
3) Year one make these two crosses. (1) Pink A (with trait of choice) X
Pink B (2) Pink C X Pink D.
4) Year two . . . transplant the two sets of seedlings and push for
growth.
5) Year three . . . Make two types of crosses (1) Seedlings AB X
Seedlings CD
(2) Seedlings CD X Seedlings AB
6) Year four . . . work through your impatience and enjoy the fruits of
year one. Also, make more crosses as in year three.
7) Year Five . . . Enjoy viewing your own pink line. Make more crosses
involving all of the above seedlings. Outcross when needed to improve
qualities. Know that you now have something unique and distinctly your own. Now,
everyone will be 10 years behind YOU! Have fun.
Betty W. still in south-central KY zone 6.
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