A million years ago in a galaxy far far away Carson Whitlow said: "Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 08:42:06 -0600 From: "Whitlow, Carson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
"There have been haploid (n) plants arise in orchids, usually from wide crosses. If we set out to produce haploids with a specific diploid (2n) complex artificial hybrid as the pod parent and succeed, we are able to literally see the entire genetic make-up of each of the haploid plants. Now, by doubling the chromosomes of one of these, say with colchicine, we end up with a diploid plant which theoretically could produce seed. However, since the plant would be totally homozygous, all progeny will be the same as the parent, excluding chance mutations. (The chance mutations would be desirable in this case.) Would this artificially produced diploid and its progeny not be a new species by definition?" I am particualrly interested in the concept of a totally homozygous parent, or one where the genome could be guessed at with predictable hybdization traits. In this case chance mutations would not be desirable, The hybridizer would want to pass along a predictable result without variation and without resorting to mericlones which may pass along virus or its own mutations from the mericlone process. Is this how progress in blue cattleya breeding has come as far as it has? I read in Kamemoto's dendrobium book that breeding with polyploids is more advanced than I'd ever suspected. K Barrett N Calif, USA _________________________________________________________________ With tax season right around the corner, make sure to follow these few simple tips. http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/PreparationTips/PreparationTips.aspx?icid=HMFebtagline _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
