C. Circle of Life descendants - color breaks but not virus!

[Fairorchids]

Ordinarily, when you see color breaks in Cattleya flowers, the assumption is that the plant has virus.

I have 6 different C. Circle of Life from the original population produced by Fordyce. Those plants do not exhibit any color breaks in the flowers.

However, I have noticed 'yellowish' color breaks in the petals of a number of first bloom seedlings, which have C. Circle of Life as a parent. Young 1st bloomers are unlikely to have virus, if you maintain good procedures in your collection, so this puzzled me.

I finally got hold of some reliable virus test kits (Agitest from Taiwan), and so far these plants are testing clean. So, my hypothesis is that there can be a genetic 'issue' when you use C. Circle of Life as a parent.

And, I will never again throw out a plant without testing it first.

Here the most extreme example of the color breaks in (Circle of Life x Melody Fair). Both flowers are from the same plant, and blooming at the same time. In the first flower it is barely noticeable, in the second flower it is very obvious.

[SFLguy]

One thing that I've noticed with color break in Circle of Life progeny is that it tends to only occur in the petals! One got awarded a while back with color breaks as a JC if I'm not mistaken. Maybe last February?

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by SFLguy

One thing that I've noticed with color break in Circle of Life progeny is that it tends to only occur in the petals! One got awarded a while back with color breaks as a JC if I'm not mistaken. Maybe last February?

That is also what I have noticed. It often appears as a 'streak' originating from the center of the flower.

[SFLguy]

If anyone is interested, the flower in question that was awarded is Cattleya Rose Marguglio Szwed 'Big Bear's Marbled Queen' JC/AOS

[Roberta]

Reminds me of people thinking that L. anceps f. lineata 'Disciplinata' was virused... Some things just have fascinating variegation. Love it!

[Roberta]

Reminds me of people thinking that L. anceps f. lineata 'Disciplinata' was virused... Some things just have fascinating variegation. Love it!

[itzi]

What an interesting and pretty variation! Would two of these with the same "splash" produce offspring with the coloration?

[Fairorchids]

Originally Posted by itzi

What an interesting and pretty variation! Would two of these with the same "splash" produce offspring with the coloration?

When something is genetic (such as peloric flowers in Cymbidium), the mutation must reside in the same gene for it to have any chance of transmitting to the offspring. And, even then it might not be possible.

Likewise, in Paphiopedilum, the album mutation in Paph. niveum is different from the album mutation in Paph. bellatulum. If you cross those two flowers, you get offspring with normal coloration.

---------- Post added at 07:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:19 PM ----------

Originally Posted by SFLguy

If anyone is interested, the flower in question that was awarded is Cattleya Rose Marguglio Szwed 'Big Bear's Marbled Queen' JC/AOS

Interesting. This hybrid is (Melody Fair x Circle of Life), registered by H&R. The photos I posted are the reciprocal cross, made by Gold Coast Orchids.

However, I have seen this in other crosses as well.

[SFLguy]

Another example, Rlc. Oconee ‘Mendenhall’ AM/AOS x Rth. Peter Lin ‘Crystelle’

[Leafmite]

I really like the effect! It must have been a relief to confirm that it wasn't caused by virus so you could just enjoy them.

I really like all of these.