Hybridizing problems

Some hybridizers give seedling numbers the minute they plant the seeds.  I usually keep the seedling under the cross name until they start blooming.

Here’s a problem that I get often when I give the seedling a number before they have all bloomed.  In this particular seed pod I must have gotten about 12 seeds.  Here are two pictures to show the differences in the same grex.

Both of these are Tarnished Gold seedlings:

The one that looks like white petals  –  actually has a very lite yellow look to it.  One could call it Yellow – Yellow.

That-s why I wait until it blooms before I give it a seedling number.

 

Clay

2 comments for “Hybridizing problems

  1. Clay,
    As you have stated there are many ways to record seedlings. I always give the cross a number and the year of the cross. This takes up less space on the labels and identifies the cross for ever. If a member of the cross is selected then it has an ID given.
    Thus 96/08A was the 8th cross done in 1996 and the first selection from the cross. 96/08B was the second selection from the cross. It was a pretty good cross too!
    Dave

  2. David,

    You and I agree on the principle. I number the seedlings with a number to designate the year, i.e. 18- to designate 2018, and like you I also give it the consecutive number for that year. However, I always start with 10 and go higher. 18-10 would be my first number for this year 2018. Also, the first number tells me when it first bloomed. When I see one of my numbers that is like 06-32 I know what year it bloomed and the consecutive number for that year. I do not give them the year of the actual cross, but they year they bloom.

    I remember Steve Vininky’s dilemma a few years ago that he had on daffnet as he numbers his crosses when he plants the seed. This one was, if I remember correctly, a N. cyclamineus self pollinated. His dilemma was, “is it still N cyclamineus because he had raised it under a cross number which means he has to give it a division, or could he designate it as N. cyclamineus.” Not sure how that came out, but I’d still be interested.

    Clay

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