My JMG, "normal" plants that are supposed to produce the willow leaf dianthus mutants are now throwing some shredded blooms themselves. I am wondering now if these will produce viable seed? If so will these be more prone to producing mutant offspring? and lastly, what methods are used to tag blooms of interest? I am definately a novice concerning the ways of MG's, so any help would be appreciated,
To self seed the flower must have a little white tube in the middle called a pistil and around it these white structures called anthers produce a powdery substance called pollen. The pollen has to go on the end of the pistil for seeds to make.
Check the flower. Some of these mutants have nothing there meaning it`s totally sterile,some have both parts intact and in order,some only have a pistil and need the pollen brought to them from another flower and some only have pollen that could be used on another flower that lacked pollen.
That`s little bit to help. I have to go back to home schooling my son... bye/bye
Most definately--these would be considered double flowers then? The corolla is split into 4 sections, but does not open fully.
I'll go check the "innards" now.
This message was edited Sep 5, 2007 8:27 AM
If that particular flower is sterile you can go ahead and mark the vine with a colored yarn and a small tag with a hole punched in the end and it is possible some flowers that are complete but maybe not quite as fancy will bloom and set seeds for you. If you mark the vine now you will know which one made the double flower and not be thrown off by any variations that can occur later on the same vine.
These flowers are complete. I hadn't thought to check that. Thanks so much for prompting me! The vine is producing both the typical and atypical blooms. While I was out there I also checked the vines that produce the willow leaves/dianthus flowers, these only have anthers. This opens up a whole new realm of Ideas.
I love that color of blue.. it is really nice.. it seems that the feathered here like the cooler temperatures, mine are starting to bud.
