HYB: Paltec

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Message text written by Dennis Kramb:

>
 I wonder if it wouldn't be simpler to
develop a fertile family by first inducing tetraploidy in tectorum before
attempting to cross it with beardeds?  But that's a project for someone
else, as I have no desire to mess with colchicine!  (I'll be happy to do
the hybridizing though once a tet tectorum is available.)

To tell the truth, I'm somewhat surprised nobody has tried this before.  If
the Paltec cross can be made with diploid parents, then it stands to reason
tetraploid parents should work too.
<

According to GARDEN IRISES [1959], this was accomplished in England back in
the 1950s, and there was some expectation of further progress in the
fertility of tectorum-bearded hybrids.  I don't know what happened to
either the stock or the experiments.  

So although I'd say that's a viable approach I'm not at all sure it should
be described as "simpler". Tom Wilkes,  Sam Norris and John Holden wrote a
number of articles about their adventures converting diploid arils to
tetraploids.  Fascinating reading.

>
I have tried all sorts of unusual Spec-X crosses with good success.
Although I have to be skeptical of the results until the seedlings actually
bloom... I've heard too many stories of bees beating the hybridizers to the
flowers.  If they're authentic, you'll be sure to hear the news in 2001 or
2002 when they start to bloom!
<

Sometimes, you can't even be sure from plant & bloom characteristics alone.
 That's when the test crosses come into play.  And chromosome counts.  More
fun....

>
Oh, by the way, I assume that Paltec has never been used as a parent
before??
<


GARDEN IRISES also lists the three tectorum-diploid cultivars:  Lop-tec, by
Dykes, Pal-tec by Denis, and Ariel-tec by Lenz.  "There are no known
records of seedlings from any of these hybrids...."  But in the past 40+
years, who knows....

Sharon McAllister
73372.1745@compuserve.com
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