Hybridizers: system for identifying new cultivars, 1 by Zen_Man

Zen_Man wrote:
Gourd,

That's almost identical to the system I use in my zinnia breeding. I do use alphabetics (A, B, C, ...) to denote the year that new specimens entering my gene pool from commercial seed sources. For example, A1 indicates the first new commercial specimen designated as a "breeder" in 2007 and B1 will be the first new commercial specimen designated as a breeder in 2008. B1-1 will be the first offspring of B1 designated as a breeder in 2008.

Sometimes I use lowercase alphabetics to designate individual flowers on a zinnia plant. For example, 1 was the central flower of my first breeder chosen in 2006, 1a was the second flower on that plant, 1b was the third flower on that plant, and 1c was the third flower on that plant. That allows me to choose different male pollen donors for each flower.

I just started my zinnia breeding in 2006, so my designated breeders were designated as 1, 2, 3, ..., with their "breeder" offsprings designated as 1-1, 1-2, .... So far I am keeping track of maternal lineage only, with a certain amount of leeway left for the male parents of crosses. Because of bees, the male parents are not always known. I haven't started bagging female flowers, but I do bag male pollen donors because the bees will harvest the pollen rather rapidly otherwise. I keep a journal that enters information for the female code numbers, including any known information about male pollen used. I probably will bag some critical female breeders this year to keep the bees from doing "my job". The bees keep rather poor records. (grin)

This is a picture of the sort of bags I use. I use an open mesh material to allow light and air to enter, while excluding the bees. I leave the bottom unclosed to allow me ready access to the flower.

MM