Variegation

I have grown some 'Eat all' mangetout peas and two of them have developed very attractive cream and green variegated shoots.

They all started off the same, but were subjected to very high temperatures two or three weeks ago when I didn't open the greenhouse windows early enough, and I wondered if anyone knows if temperature could have caused this, or is it just a fluke?

I am letting the fancy ones set seed so I can see if they produce variegated plants next year. I might have found a new 'sport'. They look beautiful with pink and maroon flowers and cream and green leaves. They taste good too.

I've just taken this photo of it - it isn't very good as the plants are about 7ft tall and it is rather difficult to reach the tops.

That's really pretty Pat. I can't answer your question but I do know that high temperatures in greenhouses can do strange things to some plants from my own experiences. This year I've had a lot (by that I mean at least 10) of my SDB irises bloom with 4 fall petals (you know how irises usually have 3 standard petals and 3 fall ones). I have had the odd one do that in the past but never that many. All had been overwintered in the unheated greenhouse but temperatures got so warm last February that they started developing their buds way too early. I also have a variegated Mirabilis jalapa grown from seed and that was also grown in the greenhouse. I wonder if your 'mangetout' or my Mirabilis will keep their variegated foliage. It will be interesting to watch as they grow bigger.
I bet those peas will still taste as good too, LOL

Terri

I've just tasted the first pod off this plant and compared it with one of the others and I couldn't taste any difference. The only thing I have noticed is that the flowers on the variegated plant are slightly smaller than the ordinary ones, but the pods look exactly the same as the others. I'll just have to wait for some seeds to set (if they do) - will have to stop eating them - to continue the experiment. I'll keep you informed.

I've saved some seeds from a variegated plant and loads from the ordinary ones.

The variegated plant has less seeds per pod, but the pods are about the same size as the others, which is fine in a mangetout.

At the Royal College of Surgeons open day last week, the chap showing us round (a psychiatrist - I'm probably doing him an injustice as he did seem rather important) was telling us about variegation and said that it is sometimes caused by a jumping gene which suddenly triggers variegation. He said that it can also be caused by a virus, which I had heard of before. Just hope it isn't catching!!!