Variation in Lycoris squamigera

Tony Avent tony@plantdelights.com
Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:36:04 PDT
Jim:

Did you mean that L. straminea was a parent of L. squamigera or did you 
mean L. longituba? 

James Waddick wrote:
>> Is it possible that there is some genetic variation in Lycoris squamigera
>> in spite of its being produced mainly by bulb chipping?
>>     
>
> Dear Anita and all,
> 	Yes,,, and no.
> 	Most of the L squamigera grown in the world are propagated 
> vegetatively - not by chip budding or scaling or quartering etc - as 
> far as I know. Do you have some specifics otherwise.? The bulbs are 
> vigorous enough and multiply fast enough to produce more than ample 
> bulblets and divisions to fill the commercial needs.
>
> 	Some other Lycoris are tissue cultured - right Tony ?
>
> 	L. squamigera was long believed, based on morphology and 
> chromosomes, to be a natural hybrid of L. straminea and L. sprengeri. 
> That specific cross was purposely repeated and the resulting plant 
> looked in all points like typical L. squamigera, but the plants were 
> diploid with 2n = 19.  Essentially all cultivated L. squamigera are 
> 3n = 27.  One problem with this theory is that L. straminea is also 
> believed to be of hybrid origin.
>
> 	Ocassionally L. squamigera will produce a seed in my garden, 
> but there are a variety of other species around that could act as 
> pollinators. I think it is safe to say it is totally self sterile.
>
> 	Tricky stuff here.
> 				best		Jim W.
>   

-- 
Tony Avent
Plant Delights Nursery @
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, North Carolina  27603  USA
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