Re: HYB: growth problems

I think that all makes sense.

Another thought - research on cloning/tissue culture demonstrates usually minor genetic changes with each generation. Each rhizome is a 'clone' of the mother rhizome, so has the <potential> to be somewhat different from the mother.
Chimeras are a conspicuous demonstration of a genetic change in part of the plant. Sometimes those genetic changes are stable (i.e., permanent). Is there any reason to believe such changes would only affect flower color? If some changes make the offspring a little better adapted to some awful climate/growing conditions than others, then repeated efforts to import a better adapted version of the same 'clone' might yield success.

A few years ago, I ran across some research that shows that, once triggered, some mechanisms for plant defenses against insects/disease are permanent in some species (so once it's there, it would/could (?) also be there in all the increases), but reversible in others.

Which is why I try to get starts of 'susceptible' cultivars from climates/growing conditions as close to as bad as my own when possible.

Except for borer exposure!
<....will these rhizomes then only be able to perform only as well as it's current mother's health permits (no matter what great conditions now exist around them) and therefore not able to live up to it's full DNA potential?? Yet at the same time - due to their "new found location" either become once again healthy/well or possibly continue to slowly die because the illness has overpowered those particular rhizomes?
Another question - - If an injury is serious enough can it cause a slight difference in the DNA?>


--
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
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