SAGE review

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Dear SAGE team:

Just as a reminder of the shape of the SAGE program for 2004, let me repeat the plan for this year, then the pre-planning in progress for 2005 I am repeating much of what was set forth before, but in a more clear (I hope) fashion:

For 2004—

For our crosses this coming spring (2004) it will be most helpful if we each stay as high up on the list as possible for selecting the SA clones to use unless for compelling reasons one cannot. I am one of those with compelling reasons, as the only SA's I currently have on hand are right down near the bottom of the list, but I am making off-list arrangements for pollen if available and needed.

For crosses from these out to non-SA’s, follow the guidelines for 2005 if you can. Otherwise, use the best quality cv’s (not just TB’s, by the way—crosses with AB’s, SDB’s, IB’s and so on are sources of useful data). The DIRECTION of the cross—which is pollen and which is pod, is to be noted, but can be made either way.

It is hoped any data gained can be added type by type into clusters or groups of crosses along the lines laid out for 2005. Since we all do not have identical collections, this "open" plan is a temporary compromise with what we hope for next year.

I am proposing the following list of four SA's. If you do not have these, or cannot acquire them, a suggestion about how to proceed will follow. Two horned, and one each of spooned and flounced varieties are listed. The criteria for the ones selected included 1) position on the above list, 2) price, 3) reasonable probability of quality progeny and 4) availability.

These have been selected as similar to or essentially of the same type as those on the primary list, thus presumably of the same or very similar genetic constitution as far as SA issues are concerned.

The more we restrict ourselves to the primary list for 2005 the greater probability we will have of generating significant numbers of seedlings.

If you cannot obtain, or if what you have fails to bloom or fails to set seed or produce pollen, or blooms out of season with the hoped for parent of the non-SA type, select a similar TYPE variety from as high on the list from Bill Burleson as you can as a substitute. This is an "out" that is to be used only if you cannot use either the primary or secondary varieties for each of the three types. The data will still be useful.

for this coming spring should include

1) the widest, best cv you have with a ledge or shelf under the beard, or which, in the case of Devonshire Cream, has been known to produce SA traits repeatedly under some conditions, or is a known breeder of SA's

X one of the horned varieties from the primary list, using the horned variety as the pollen parent—or the equivalent from the secondary list if the primary varieties are not available

2) a quality-producing breeder that has no trace of a ledge or shelf, or is known to be a producer of few if any SA seedlings when crossed with them (see list below)

X one of the horned varieties, using the horned variety as the pollen source, using the horned varieties from the primary list if possible, or the secondary list if the varieties on the primary list are not available.

3) each of the horned varieties in the primary list X the flounced variety-or the reverse of the crosses, or both, depending on what produces pollen and when.

Purple Pirouette
Double Bubble
Blackout
Quito
Dynamite

Hopefully, other names can be added to this list.

Please note this applies to cross-type 2 only.

The intent of cross type 2 is to look for a "normalizing" or inhibiting condition or factor, or evidence which might indicate why these varieties do not breed SA’s, and to watch for "proto horn" conditions including shelf or ledge-bearing seedlings if no obvious SA seedlings show up.

For non-SA’s for cross type 1, known breeders of SA’s are to be used, or ones showing the ‘Advance Guard’ protohorn, or showing ledge or shelf under the beard without ambiguity.

Some readily available cv’s might include these known to have produced SA offspring:

Yaquina Blue

Honky Tonk Blues

Spirit World

Golden Panther,

and probably

Devonshire Cream

Swingtown

or almost any plicata, luminata, tangerine bearded variety--

and so forth—look in catalogs that have pedigrees, and/or the R&I’s or Check Lists for SA listings and note the non-SA parents. The intent here is to use a non-SA parent that does throw SA offspring.

We are open to suggestions to widely owned, high quality varieties that qualify for the non-SA parent for cross-type one. The better the quality of the parent, the higher chance quality offspring might result. Our most solid data will result if most of us use the same non-SA parents. We are waiting for suggestions, but the identifying of "ledge" or "shelf" types has to wait for our southern folks to see bloom on their target varieties to identify specific varieties with certainty.

The other two cross types involve crosses between SA’s of different types and are not affected by the non-SA lists.

Segregation ratios for ledge, short beard, long beard, spooned, flounced and elaborated flounce types may reveal data in unscrambling the genetic constitution of SA irises

As we begin planning our swaps, trades and purchases, the aims of SAGE will be furthered by including at least some of the primary list SA 's. Please note I am recommending purchase or swap for more than one rhizome of the varieties you intend to add. This is to help guarantee bloom on first-year plants.

As your bloom season comes on, note quality breeders that show shelves or ledges and report them to the list so that selection of target, primary non-SA parents for cross-type 1 may be made.

OR: go through catalogs, check lists, R&I’s and look for SA’s, and note what parents have produced SA’s. Take note especially of those of high quality that you have already, or plan to acquire, and are likely to be owned by many of the group, and please report them to the list.

The energy and participation of all of you has been terrific so far.  For me, it seems very gratifying to be involved in a project that may contribute something of use to "The World of Iris" knowledge base.  I suspect many of you feel the same.

Highest Regards,