Chromosome Count - Orchid Board

Gold3nku5h · #1 08-16-2008, 01:42 PM

Bought my first orchid yesterday,

and selfed three of the six flowers.

I knew i shouldn't but i crossed one with itself, and the other 2 with opposite anthers.

I believe it was a hybrid, it was labeled as intergenus.

I looked and as far as i know it was Brassia X Oncidium.

It looks like the Brassidium Shooting Stars but it is a yellow flower mostly covered by purple blotches.

I will try and get a picture later.

Anyways i crossed it yesterday, and today the coloum? closed on the anthers.

So now i wait for them to shed the flower and produce a seed pod.

Im wondering, if it does continue to produce seed, and sets, how do i count the chromosomes?

Do i need to get a microscope, and are the seeds spore sized?

Thanks, Aaron

bonsai1504 · #2 08-16-2008, 01:59 PM

i'm not an expert about hybridizing but if you selfed it the chromosomes would be exctly the same. right? hopefully this answer you were looking for. if not, there are many members here that can help you

lambelkip · #3 08-16-2008, 04:42 PM

no, they're not the same, each sex cell only gets 1/2 of the chromosomes, chosen at random. there is some overlap, so when you pollinate it, you'll end up with a plant that has about 3/4 of the genes of the parent plant. this can bring out recessive traits, and you're pretty much guaranteed to end up with something different from the parent plant. there's really no reason not to cross a plant with itself, you can come up with some interesting results. i'm not sure why you would want to count the chromosomes, it won't give you any idea what the plant will look like. the seeds will be spore sized, like every other orchid seed. you should probably look for more information on how to grow orchids from seed, since it's somewhat difficult.

Gold3nku5h · #4 08-16-2008, 05:33 PM

I know its difficult, but i've worked with sterlizing medium to grow, i've tried mushrooms for my terrariums before. I read that you are supposed to count the chromosomes to see if the seed is viable. Being spore sized i wouldn't imagine how you would count, unless with a microscope, and a good one at that.

lambelkip · #5 08-16-2008, 06:00 PM

a orchid seed pod typically contains hundreds of thousands of seeds. throw them all in your growth medium, and see which ones make it.

Royal · #6 08-20-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gold3nku5h

I read that you are supposed to count the chromosomes to see if the seed is viable. Being spore sized i wouldn't imagine how you would count, unless with a microscope, and a good one at that.

You'd need one heck of a microscope to count them, much less see them. Most chromosome work is done by electrophoresis, and with mature plant tissue.

gixrj18 · #7 08-16-2008, 06:26 PM

Flask it, and wait....that's what I do.

Gold3nku5h · #8 08-16-2008, 08:53 PM

Ok, well i have recently found that it is a Miltassia Shelob 'Red Spider' So it is a Hybrid im guessing, meaning it has more of a genetic strain than if it were intergenus? or are those both the same thing? anyways here is a link to a pic, as i dont know how to post a picture, and its not mine, but im sure someone else on OB owns it because this was the source of the pic. Mtssa Shelob 'Red Spider' Oh, and by the way, in the pic the flower to the left, has been popped off, where they anther is exposed, and the right, has it still attached. I took the anther and placed it directly where it came off, two on opposite, one on the same flower. All three have closed the Coloum? and im guessing has started it process for making seeds.