Viewing post #783734 by valleylynn

JungleShadows said:Paddy,

No it's a GREAT question!

Most traits are inherited equally from both parents, but certain cytoplasmic factors, genes from the chloroplasts and mitochondria come just from the female parent. Generally I will do the cross in BOTH directions as I have to cover the two plants in order to make the cross. For example I crossed 'Borscht' with its sibling, in both directions. That gave me twice the seed from that mating. If I do it one way, I cross the most vigorous plant as the pod parent. The vigorous plant tends to produce more viable seed and it also might have the vigor genes from its mitochondria too.

I have a slightly different strategy with nearly sterile plants, like 'Greenwich Time'. In some cases I let mother nature take its course and collect whatever seeds form, figuring the bees might have a chance of finding a bit of good pollen on the plant or find a mate that is compatible. On others, I cover the plant and make hand crosses on it with a variety of different pollen parents, hoping that one will work. In my normal crosses, I will make the same pollination a couple dozen times to get a lot of seed from the desired cross. For example, I got in excess of 400 seeds from each of the 'Borscht' X sib and sib X 'Borscht' cross. I'm hoping I get the size of 'Borscht' and the more intense color of its sibling.

Greg, yeah I think the waterlily form is the best way to show off beautiful colors and patterns in a rosette. For things with watermarks on the backs of the leaves it doesn't work as well.

Hope that all makes sense!

Kevin