Is their a good source for chromosome counts on aroids? If so what is the count on Caladiums?
Chromosome count?
Brian,
Are you thinking about doing some Caladium breeding? If so, I've done some and can give you tips on how to succeed.
LariAnn
LariAnn I did a few crosses this season just to test the waters. I would be interested in any tips you can offer. I seem to stay completely busy breeding now days, but I find myself looking to breed more each year and add new plants to the list of what I am breeding.
Well, I've been crossing Caladiums for over 4 years, in between my extensive Alocasia and Philodendron work. This year I did my first successful cross between an "American" Caladium and a Thai Caladium. The seedlings are small, but numerous. Were your crosses successful this season?
In Alocasias, I got A. odora x A. watsoniana, A. 'Imperial Giant' x A. watsoniana, A. 'Imperial Giant' x A. sanderiana 'Nobilis' and a bunch of others, including my first four species hybrid, (A. macrorrhizos 'Borneo Giant' x A. 'VangiGo') x (A. odora x A. nycteris (advincula)). Next year I should be able to do a few 5 and 6 species crosses with the progeny I've produced this year.
This is very interesting. Are you getting tetraploids from this breeding? I have always heard that in the F2 F3 and so on you will get plants that have features that are extremes from one end of the spectrum to the other. Although in my breeding I don't see this as straight forward as I had thought or at least hoped. I still tend to get a mesh of either parent even when they are F3 and F4 crosses. These hybrids you are working with will be interesting to see. I am wondering if you are able to keep the watsoniana leaf in tact while making it tougher and larger growing. Have you been breeding the seedlings together if so what results of this?
I will be at the aroid show hopefully we can sit down and talk for awhile or possibly a visit to see your work. Either way I look forward to this interesting conversation like last time.
So far I don't believe I've gotten very many polyploids, if any, from my crosses. I'm pretty sure the "pixies" are at least tetraploid, but I've not seen any new ones like that show up in my seedling batches so far.
Reference the watsoniana crosses, the largest seedlings are still just 3 or 4 inches tall and just starting to show color. I'm looking at next year to attempt further crosses with them. Meanwhile, you might remember that a couple of years ago at the aroid show, you gave me a plant from a cross you did with Frydek and bullata. I almost lost it after I grew it to a very large size (relatively speaking, of course, since these plants are not 'large' in the way that A. odora is large). But finally I got one up to blooming size again. The last time I had this hybrid bloom, I noted that it produced plenty of pollen. So this time I'm hoping to cross it with the Imperial Giant, since that one, the Sinuate Mac, and the Reticulate odora are the ones blooming for me right now. Let's hope for perfect timing on this one.
I, too, hope we can sit and talk shop at the show. I'm still pondering whether I want to show any of my newest hybrids there. You are welcome to come by during the show, though, and see what has developed since you were last here. I think you'll be surprised.
I am taking my wife and parents to the show this year. Both of you have helped me start my journey into the world of aroids. It would be an honor to meet both of you in person. I have only been gardening for the past 6 months or so but I have received a vast knowledge of the botanical world from my father. My father has worked with horticulture his entire life (Including many years at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, FL) and has instilled the love for plant life in me at an early age (even though I didn't care for it then). Thanks to both of your enthusiastic passion for aroids, i have found my interest. Your knowledge has helped my curiosity blossom and I can't seem to absorb enough. Thank you and I can't wait to see what you guys come up with in the future! Maybe one day I will have a creation of my own to share!
It is always a pleasure to meet new aroid fanatics at the show. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
LariAnn you wouldn't happen to have any Caladium pollen now??? I could really use some. I had thought about contacting Dennis at Silver Krome just to see.
It will also be my pleasure to meet you, Dan!
Brian, no, none of my Caladiums are blooming at all this time of year. Denis might have a few Thais blooming but unless you are bringing with you the plant you intend to use it on, the pollen won't be much good. I never try to save either Philodendron or Caladium pollen because both are moist pollen, unlike Alocasia, which is a dry powder. Moist pollen loses viability very quickly.
Brian,
One observation I've just made is that the characteristics of A. sanderiana 'Nobilis' are very dominant in crosses using it as one parent. The seeds of my cross, A.'Imperial Giant' x A. sanderiana 'Nobilis' have germinated and every one of them has the red undersides and whitish veins. Since the seed was set on Imperial Giant, there is no chance of the A. sanderiana having selfed itself. This is spectacular news for me because it means that I am much closer to my goal in that regard than I thought I might be. By comparison, the seedlings of A. 'Imperial Giant' x A. watsoniana have yet to show any color.
LariAnn
This message was edited Sep 3, 2009 3:29 PM