tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post2106516064478753164..comments2024-02-05T23:24:54.601-05:00Comments on DC Tropics: Strength in numbersDC Tropicshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18325534376342345900noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-32660598792038146822016-03-24T14:14:20.775-04:002016-03-24T14:14:20.775-04:00I am a professional plant breeder and read you col...I am a professional plant breeder and read you column with interest , there is no way around large number of seedlings but during the course of the work certain parameters can be established to eliminate those that are of no interest , such as heat tolerance , cold tolerance , salt tolerance and so on , many times these selection pressures can be implemented just as soon as the seedlings germinate , those that make it go on to round two. Bear in mind that most real changes are recessive and show up in the F2 generation so you are faced with growing out some selections and letting them cross amongst themselves or back cross to the parent with the traits you want to pass on , this eliminates some of the recessive traits to that they become more evident . It requires numbers and there is no way around it . Again in the F2's ruthless trials that push the limits get you to where you want to be , too little too late just prolongs the throng of seedlings cluttering up all available space , some seedling along the way have to die . Above all do not get your spouse or close friend to help select as they will be inclined to keep everything . By design it has to be a big burn pile at the end of a run<br />The Bill Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06829713660220831436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-82587824377710400962016-01-29T02:24:08.709-05:002016-01-29T02:24:08.709-05:00I'm with C.M! Fascinating stuff!I'm with C.M! Fascinating stuff!outlawgardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273973572989510382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-65994028900263016902016-01-25T22:22:45.267-05:002016-01-25T22:22:45.267-05:00Ok - here's what I want to know: When can I st...Ok - here's what I want to know: When can I start buying your fabulous plants? :o)Casa Mariposahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16647089868277238456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-31229989188210620722016-01-25T14:58:03.404-05:002016-01-25T14:58:03.404-05:00"The more seedlings you grow, the more variat..."The more seedlings you grow, the more variation you’ll see, the better your choices to select from will be, and the greater the likelihood of getting those one or two rare but really fabulous outliers."<br /><br />Really well said! One of my mantras is "progress is a function of difference".<br /><br />Out of all the plants... I think that the orchid family is the poster child for the numbers game. A single seed pod can contain around a million seeds! Given that no two seeds are going to be exactly alike... that's quite a bit of difference. I'm pretty sure that the orchid family's success is in large part due to how well it plays the numbers game. Although I have yet to find a single scientific paper that has made the same argument. <br /><br />Recently I started growing reed-stem Epidendrums from seed. Last year I learned just how quick and easy they grow from seed. No flasking required. Epidendrum secundum actually has the largest seeds in the orchid family. So I'm guessing that they have enough nutrients to germinate on their own. I'm really curious what the evolutionary explanation is. <br /><br />The drawback is that it takes a few years before the seedlings are blooming size. I'm hoping to cross them with some Barkeria species which are relatively "precocious". Then a lot more progress could be made in a lot less time. <br /><br />Reed-stem Epis are relatively cold tolerant... but I'm guessing that your winters would fry them. But if you ever want to try growing some from seed just for the heck of it... then I'll be happy to share some seeds with you. Xerographicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14978832439622230018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2430461288790146786.post-55815126466079670582016-01-24T17:13:57.170-05:002016-01-24T17:13:57.170-05:00Very well said... Useful information for all hybri...Very well said... Useful information for all hybridizers!John Beaulieunoreply@blogger.com