No, I don't hybridize - mainly because I don't have the room to even try! But I've been thinking about possibilities since I have all of these rare violets growing on my shelves here...
What if someone were to take a vintage from the '50's or '60's and cross them with an outstanding current variety? I've been hearing people talk lately about how the current varieties seem to sport more often. Their thought process seems to be that it's either that hybridizers aren't letting the violet go through the full three generations before releasing it or else that the genes are becoming less stable. If it's that the genes are less stable due to all the crosses, would crossing a newer variety with an older variety give more stability to newer varieties?
It's just something that's been going through my head. If I had the time and space (mostly the space!), I'd give it a shot myself. Since I don't, if someone would like a leaf of an older variety for the purpose of hybridizing, I'm happy to share. My only stipulation is that they keep the vintage variety around and share it out in order to keep it in circulation so it doesn't get lost. :)
I would love to have a leaf just to get started :)
ReplyDeleteHello, and welcome to my blog! I'm happy to share leaves but unless you live in Colorado I won't be able to get any leaves shipped out until spring as the nighttime temperatures here are already pretty chilly. If you're on the African Violet Nerds group on facebook, I'm sure there are people who are still shipping though and would be happy to help you get started. :)
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