Categorizing Mutant Morning Glories: Masaki vs. Demono

The Japanese have been cultivating mutant morning glories and are able to keep up these mutant genetic lines even before Mendel's experiment with peas. What is interesting is that even without the scientific data, these mutant lines have been maintained for ages and even now still enjoyed by morning glory enthusiasts. Here will be discussed the two categories that mutant Japanese morning glories fall into: Masaki (正木) and Demono (出).

MASAKI
Masaki mutants are those mutants with the desired genes that are carried from one generation to the next by simple mutations. This mutation can be kept without keeping a parental stock, or what the Japanese call "oyaki". Star-shaped blooms (kikyo), dwarfs (cultivars such as kawaii), windmill, contracted are some examples of Masaki mutants. Basically, if you plant a Masaki mutant, theoretically (not considering pollinating factor such as cross pollination) ALL the seeds produced by this plant should also carry for the desired mutant trait. Hence when you have a star-shaped bloom (kikyo) that produced seeds, ALL the seeds produce will have star-shaped blooms.

DEMONO
Demono in Japanese literally means "segregating plants", and this category of mutant morning glories do not produce seeds which is why we have to keep a parental stock (parental stock in Japanese - oyaki). We, as English speakers often use an online translator which translate Japanese characters as close to it can get. If one has noticed, "Bargain Chance" frequently appears in this translation. Bargain Chance is the soft-translation for Demono, which is actually inaccurate.

To keep the desired mutant genes, we must select normal looking flowers (because these are the ones that only produce seeds). From these normal looking flowers, different types of leaves and blooms will be produced; some will be normal while some will be unusual-looking. This makes this category a complex system because you will have to test the parental stock for the desired traits such as double blooms and curled leaves (Please see Arlan's blog on "Dragon-Claw leaves" as this is an excellent example of a Demono mutant morning glory http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/atenkley/4889/ -this is a thorough explanation for this system, and a more general explanation on the next posting).

Eliz

PS: picture below is a Windmill type bloom, seeds courtesy of Debrah (reverse tube). This can be categorized as Masaki mutant morning glory

A cautionary note to those buying seeds:

I believe one must be educated about the difference between these 2 categories of mutant morning glories (Masaki and Demono). Seeds of Masaki offered at such small amounts (5 seeds) I think is alright, since ALL seeds in theoretical proportion will carry the desired mutant trait. But demonos should be offered atleast 30 plust seeds, according to the theoretical proportion. Even though Demonos can produce single shredded blooms, we must attain for the best attribute/traits. According to the Japanese mg culture, the demonos with the double blooms are the best looking traits that we should attain for. Also some of the mutant lines like the "tsubame" require more seeds to be sown and grown because the probability of getting a demono Tsubame is lower than your usual Shishi demono (Shishi botan demono illustrated by shredded, double blooms, below).

I do not think it's because of ignorance that sellers only give 5 seeds for demono mutant morning glories, but the transfer of culture such as growing plants is of an interesting one because once cultural information is transferred, it is not exactly the same as the original concept...might be similar but not the same. But at the same time, I would like to emphasize the essential concept of how to grow demonos properly and I hope I have not offended anybody with this comment.

Eliz
(Image was given to me by a Japanese friend who is also an mg enthusiast..I would like to thank him for all the knowledge that he has passed on though I am still learning)

This message was edited Jul 8, 2009 9:54 AM

Masaki Mutants

Kikyo, star-shaped blooms http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/185172/
Kikyo Ten-Ten http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/184385/
Yellow blooms http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6922735
Black blooms http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6888722
Matsushima (bicoloured green-yellow leaves)
Fujishibori http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/71470/
Scarlet O'Hara with contracted leaves http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6901001
Kawaii/dwarfed varieties http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/133793/
Cameo Elegance/Beni Chidori/Mini bar rose http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/128748/

Some examples from Dr. Yoneda's site (these are descriptions of blooms or the leaves of the plants)

Tatuta http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/01.html
Maple like leaves. Number of lobes can differ for each plant.

Kibatatuta http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/02.html
Maple leaves, just like the above, but with yellow coloured leaves.

Sasa http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/03.html
Gene is called, delicate, roughly translated to bamboo grass (because it resembles bamboo grass). Veins are usually raised. Number of lobes can vary and this type of leaf form can be seen in different types of mutation (alot of mutants mixed with sasa leaves).

Tatutasasa http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/04.html
as an example as stated above, this is a mixture of maple and bamboo grass. Leaf veins are prominent, and sometimes can be hard to distinguish between a plant with just bamboo mutation.

Hanaba http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/15.html
Side-reduce. not all the leaves of the plant will have side-reduced lobes, but compared to orthodox and dragonfly leaves, the lobes are very tiny. Most leaves should show side-reduced lobes as such in the picture.

Tasutahanaba-sirokirezaki http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/16.html
maple-side reduce leaves with split white blooms, common type of flower shape with maple mutations.

Tatutahanaba-usumurasakikirezaki http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/17.html
maple-side reduce leaves with light purplish split blooms.

Daizaki http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/29.html
Daizaki http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/30.html
Daizaki http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/31.html
Daizaki http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/32.html
blooms that look like a navel or inverted tube as we call it in English-speaking countries. May also be called candle stick. Dai or inverted tubes are always accompanied by the crepe mutation of the leaves.

Kurumazaki http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/33.html
Maple and inverted tube mutation. Kurumazaki refers to the blooms of this mutant strain. Looks very similar to Daizaki (inverted tube) blooms, but the petals are split broadly due to maple mutation. Note the maple - like leaves with crepe texture.

Tonbotirimenuzu http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/35.html
Dragonfly, crepe, contracted. Tonbo for dragonfly leaves, tirimen, or chirimen for crepe textured leaves and contracted or whirlpooled leaves.

Rinpuu http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/36.html
Blown gene (I am not sure yet if this gene is referring to the texture of the leaves or vine habit at the petiole or both)

Rinpuutatuta http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/37.html
Blown maple leaves

Nanten http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/38.html
Nandina-like leaves. nanten refers to the leaves, while its blooms are called sword-like blooms

Nanten http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/39.html

Koumorinanten http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/42.html
batshaped leaves = koumorinanten, this is a mixture of cordate and nanten leaves.

Maruba http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/43.html
cordate leaves, or round leaves

Hederaseaba http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/44.html
Hederaseaba http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/45.html
leaves look like Ipomoea hederacea. This type of mutant was recently hybridized with other forms of leaves by Dr. Yoneda producing snail leaves and gourd leaves: relatively new

Kikyou http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/50.html
Kikyou http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/51.html
kikyou = bellflower. This type of bloom is always accompanied by star-contracted leaves (kikyo-uzu ha), which is different from the normal contraction (uzu). Some plants bear single flowers, while some plants have doubled petals (stamen and pistil turns into petals). the double form is sterile because of this, but seeds can be produced from the same vine with single blooms.

Uzu http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/52.html
contracted leaves. Different contractions are still categorized further into how much (level of) contraction leaves have.

Rangikuuzu http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/53.html
mixture of polymorphic and contracted leaves. Polymorphic leaves are usually accompanied by multiple-rayed flowers as illustrated in the picture. According to this website, the blooms are called de-shriveled chrysanthemum.

Tizimizaki http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/54.html
wrinkled corolla with wrinkled leaves. can be distinguished from crepe leaves with inverted tube blooms since the flowers are wrinkled (almost like crumpled paper) with leaves that look like they are creped.

Kidati or Kodati http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/56.html
Kidati or Kodati http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/57.html

dwarfed variety. Dwarfed refers to the habit of the vine, not the shape or size of the leaves. Size of leaves are like that of normal Ipomoea nil, but the vine growth is short. Thick stems, can have dragonfly leaves or orthodox leaves. sunsmile and carol series are dwarfs.


Sidare http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/58.html
Sidare http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/59.html
can also be spelled shidare. weeping vine, unlike that of cameo elegance, which is just tiny. Shidare describes the habit of the vine, as it has lost the ability to twine. Not available commercially.

Taika http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/60.html
fasciated. also refers to the habit or structure of the vine. it is flattened and is usually accompanied by pear leaves and is believed to have been originated from vines that carry the pear leaf mutation. This type of vine can revert back to a normal looking vine.


*list will be updated from time to time



This message was edited Aug 12, 2009 9:23 PM

This message was edited Aug 12, 2009 9:30 PM

This message was edited Aug 13, 2009 7:11 AM

Demono Mutants

Willow leaves with dianthus-like blooms
Dragon-claw leaves with feathered blooms
Tsubame
Contracted dwarf
Needle-leaf

Some examples from Dr. Yoneda's site (these are descriptions of blooms or the leaves of the plants)

Yanagi http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/05.html
Willow leafed. Most willow leafed varieties are usually mixed with other types of leaf shapes and leaf textures. Most are of the contracted variety, and host plant usually show this attribute with normal/orthodox or dragonfly leaves. Willow leafed varieties usually carry the dianthus split like flowers. this type of bloom is called Nadeshiko. It is frilled and split. Dr. Yoneda's site does not illustrate much of the parent plants for willows, so we can't really see the contraction of the host plants.

Yanagihubuki http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/06.html
Willow leaves with Blizzard patterning. It is unusual for mutants to carry patterning such as blizzards and speckles and is highly viewed by mg enthusiasts

Itoyanagi http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/07.html
This is the demono plant produced when willow and bamboo leaves are mixed. The demono plant carries for filamentous willow leaves, which are really really fine looking willow leaves. growth is slow and this variety usually flowers later in the season.

Itoyanagihitoe http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/08.html
Itoyanagihitoe http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/09.html
Itoyanagi = filamentous willow, hitoe = single blooms. Demono with single blooms. blooms of singles are pretty, but usually mg enthusiasts go for double blooms because it makes the blooms look fuller.

Itoyanagibotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/10.html
Itoyanagi = filamentous willow, botan = double blooms. Demono with double blooms.

Yanagisirosaizakibotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/11.html
Yanagisaizakibotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/12.html
Demono plant of yanagi system showing double blooms with split frilled blooms.

Sasabotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/13.html
bamboo leafed with double blooms. Even though bamboo leaves with single blooms are considered masaki, the double for is considered as a demono because the stamen and pistils of the flowers have turned into petals. thus to maintain the double form, the single form must produce seeds and some of these seeds will carry for the double.

Sasakikyoubotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/18.html
bamboo leafed (sasa), star-shaped(kikyo), botan (double blooms). Mixture of bamboo leaf and star-contracted leafed varieites (remember that star-contracted usually comes with kikyo-shaped blooms which are shaped like chinese bellflowers). Again a demono because of the double gene which must be maintained by the single flowering vine of this system.

Sisi http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/19.html
Sisi http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/25.html
Sisi http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/26.html
also can be written as Shisi which means lion. Shisi refers to the splitting of the petals. The gene is called feathered (fe) Dr. Yoneda does not talk about how there are different types of shisi blooms and can be further categorized (he briefly skimmed through this): Hakama feathered, wakane feathered (shooting star type), windbell feathered, creased feathered and bearded feathered (work/research still in progress so bare with me please).

Botan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/20.html
refers to the duplication of flowers. pistils and stamen turns into petals, thus preventing the plant to produce seeds. Botan means tree peony in japanese and in scientific terms it is referred to as duplicated (dp). Some of us refer to it as double.

Sisibotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/21.html
Sisibotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/22.html
Sisibotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/23.html
Sisibotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/24.html
shisibotan is the combination of splitting and duplicating of the petals of the flowers. These types of blooms are a part of a system called "Lion double system" (roughly translated). On the Kyushu site of Dr. Nitasaki, you can see different types of this system. Some have different coloured blooms and some have different flower types (see above note about hakama, watane, windbell, creased, bearded blooms)

Sisibotan-oya http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/27.html
Suffix "oya" indicates a parental plant. So here, this means the parental plant of Shisibotan (feathered double or lion double).

Rinpuusisisasa no kikei http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/28.html
This strain has the feathered gene and must be maintained with the parental stock. (anything with feathered/lion or double/duplicate/botan must be maintained through a parental stock, thus is it a demono type mutant)

Daizakibotan http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/34.html
Dai - inverted navel type blooms which come with the crepe leaf texture (cp). Single blooming varieties are usually masaki type mutants, but the double varieties are demonos which have sprouting petals off the inverted tube.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON DAIZAKIBOTAN and other similar variaties: this is not a mixture of maple. you can have dai + maple = windmill (kurumazaki) categorized as a masaki. this looks different from a plant just carrying for dai tubes categorized as masaki: windmill type blooms have broadly split petals (because of the maple mutation) with inverted tubes (because of the dai mutation) while dai blooms do not have the broadly split petals, only the inverted tube.

Daizakibotan, which is the double form of just the dai bloom mutation does not have the broadly split petals, but is considered a demono because of the double gene. Kurumazakibotan, which is the double form of windmill (maple + dai) is also a demono because of the duplication/doubling of petals. Parental stock of kurumazakibotan (kurumazakibotan-oya) shows off single blooms with inverted tubes and broadly split petals BUT leaves are crepe and orthodox and does not show the maple mutation. The demono plants have maple crepe-mutation, inverted tubes with broadly split petals, with petals coming out of the tube (because of the duplication gene).

Tubame http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/Asagao/Yoneda_DB/E/PCD2523/htmls/55.html
can also be spelled Tsubame. Overall structure is tiny. Please do not confuse this with the "tiny" variety (Beni chidori, cameo elegance. Arlan also wrote about this extensively in his diary). While the parent plant have regular sized leaves, the demono type looks like the miniature type.

*list will be updated from time to time



This message was edited Aug 13, 2009 7:09 AM

This message was edited Aug 13, 2009 7:11 AM

What an awesome thread, Eliz! Domo Arigato!

Joseph

you are welcome Joseph! great to see others are taking an interest! =D

Oh this is great.. I love leaves, and I have some on those lists it is good to know why they look like they do.. thanks so much!

Fascinating information, Eliz! I love many of the Masaki Mutants you have listed. :-)

HOW TO GET SEEDS FROM DEMONO MUTANT MGS

The pictures of the blooms are from a book, while the pictures of the leaves are of my own (mine have not bloomed yet....so i had to use the book to explain). I will stay away from genetics and statistics and japanese language because it can get confusing. Arlan also explained this in his diary http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/atenkley/4889/

As an example, we will talk about Lion-Double or Shishi botan systems because this is the easiest type of demono mutant morning glory. Please refer to the image attached to this post for this example.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's just say you received seeds that were labeled, "Shishibotan". you grew four seeds and each seeds grew to plants similar to the picture below (plant 1, plant 2, plant 3, plant 4)

Plant 1
Round, single blooms with orthodox (normal) curled leaves

Plant 2
Round, double blooms with cordate (heartshaped) leaves

Plant 3
Feathered, single blooms with dragon claw leaves

Plant 4
Feathered, double blooms with dragon claw leaves

Out of four plants, only Plant 1 is the fertile one. Plant 1 will produce seeds, while the rest of the other plants will not. Now what you have to do is let Plant 1 self fertilize itself, you do not cross this with other plants (Plant 1 x Plant 1). The genes will segregate and be redistributed within the seeds produces. The next season, you are suppose to sow these seeds and "sow-test" for feathered, double blooms with dragon claw leaves (you will get any plants that look similar from Plant 1 to Plant 4 in this F1). If any of the F1 produce any feathered double blooms with dragon claw leaves (one that looks like Plant 4), then only the set of seeds that came from F (parent plant, Plant 1 from last year), then should be labeled as "Lion Double Mutant System"). Of course, you will have alot of plants that will look like Plant 1, so it is important to keep vines separated from other vines.

Some plants that look like Plant 1 will not carry for the double and feathered - double and feathered carriers is what we are going for because this is essentially the demono (any plants that look like Plant 4). So this is the reason why we do the sow test. Sow test can also be done during early fall, and the plant can be forced into early blooming to check if it has double bloom.

In this type of system, Plant 1 is called the parental stock. Any plants that look like Plant 4 is the Demono plant of the Lion double mutant system.

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON DRAGON CLAW LEAVES: Dragon claw leaves refer to the curling of the leaves, not exactly the shape of the leaves. It does contribute to the overall shape, hence the leaf looking like a claw of a dragon. At cotyledon stage, dragon claw leaves looks like normal cotyledons, but the edges are upturned (picture coming up later). Dragon claw leaves can also be subcategorized further into "clenched", "water-scoop" or "Long-tailed". I do not have much information on these, but hopefully we will be able to discuss about this later.

Willow systems are quite different, similar concept, but you will be looking for a different type of leaf shapes and flower shapes. Most of the seeds being distributed/shared within the DG community are willow leaves which is a bit more advanced.

This message was edited Aug 13, 2009 9:51 AM

thankyou Eliz

I am so thrilled to see this, Eliz - I know some folks have been asking questions about this, and this is a wonderful "Answer-Present" to the forum.

If my memory is working correctly, many of these Edo mutants were destroyed during WWII, and Japan was only able to recoup some of its losses thanks to private growers who had kept some of the breeding lines going during the war, some outside of Japan. So, I do think that it would be great if more folks around the world could keep species and cultivars - not necessarily belonging to Convolvulaceae - of special plants in existence. Ya never know when something like an earthquake or whatever will happen. Wouldn't it be great if the learning curve on this forum could grow to include more enthusiasts who could help keep some of these mutants alive?

Karen

Bluespiral (!)

I think you are wholly correct and that is a wonderful "Answer-Present" to the forum.

I remember reading this somewhere as well about the Edo mutants being destroyed, where do you remember this and how and who destroyed them?

It looks like the mutants are 'alive and thriving' even if they are hidden at times (!)

Correct me if I am wrong (!)

TTY

This message was edited Aug 13, 2009 6:32 PM

rsm - the source for the WWII destruction of the Edo mutant collection is in the mg sticky index, section MUTABILITY (Changability) of MORNING GLORIES, at: http://www.shigen.nig.ac.jp/shigen/news/n_letter/2006/newsletter_v2_n3En.html -

"Since a long time ago, researchers have collected asagao from private collectors and have used them for research. Unfortunately, almost none of the strains that had been used for genetic analysis before the war survived. Thus, coordinate indexing are conducted with allelism test of mutations and analysis of genetic information based on the strains recollected from private collectors after the war." Dr. Nitasaka