It struck me also that diploids fared better on balance. A closer ploidy and pedigree analysis would be nice to see. Makes one wonder anew if there are adaptability factors in 2ns still awaiting to be tapped into for modern breeding purposes. But there were 2ns in the lowest ratings as well. The paper talked about progeny doing better than parents. Couldn't exactly follow what they were talking about unless it is what I did note, a number of famous root tets are found in the lower rating, e.g. Souv. de Loetitia Michaud, Kashmir White, et al.

So one wonders if there is a significant difference in potential between the 4n gene pool centered around the Near/Mid East and the Euro 2n? I had been wondering if there is potential in any bearded things in warmer/more humid areas as you get mid-Asian? Who knows what is still out there? Iris orjenii a 2n species was first found/described in early 2000's coming out of Montenegro, albeit it distinctly requiring cold temps for vernalization. But this is Europe proper so imagine as you get into the Asian regions. If there are many successes in College Station,TX then it's not outside reason to find/derive things that can hang with hot/humid Z9a using things already in our own backyard. The definition of success is important: disease control requirements, lack of modern form, etc.

As yes, sad on the trials front. The TX study was amazing to have gone on for 12 yrs! I know that university based trials for turfgrasses are suffering. And basic research grant finding in general is a dicey thing I take it. R&D costs are prohibitive relative to sales on the privates side. Maybe we need to play around with ideas coming out of the "crowd sourcing" realm? Essentially isn't that what collecting in the wild is with nature being the crowd? Given enough sampling the lack of protocol is mitigated? Hasn't that been a major part of iris hybridizing all along? Labors of love and luck.

Shaub Dunkley

An analysis on the ploidy and pedigrees would be great to see.
On 11/5/2014 8:50 PM, Robert Pries wrote: