Selfing

[Royal]

Good info here. I have wondered the same thing as Craig. Let's just say we have two plants in the same genus. Is it possible to self one flower, and pollinate another flower on the same plant with the pollen from a different species? In other words, can one plant carry two seed capsules of different parentage on the same plant at the same time?

[calvin_orchidL]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Good info here. I have wondered the same thing as Craig. Let's just say we have two plants in the same genus. Is it possible to self one flower, and pollinate another flower on the same plant with the pollen from a different species? In other words, can one plant carry two seed capsules of different parentage on the same plant at the same time?

I would think that this should definitely be possible, considering each pod is a separate fertilized unit...furthermore, if you think about what happens in nature, oftentimes multiple pods are seen on a plant, and each of those pods is of different parentage. Same species, yes, but different pollen from a different donor. So theoretically it should work...

[maitaman]

Even with complex hybrids, such as SLC, etc., I've had as many as four capsules with different pollen parents on one plant. At one time I pollenated the same flower with pollen from three different parents. There were three distinct combinations in the seeds raised.
I wouldn't suggest that. It was an experiment, and it would probably be difficult to register a hybrid from such a cross, though there were, of course, no combinations with two pollen parents on one plant. I doubt that would work, anyhow. There wouldn't be matches ... except maybe if you crossed standard pollen parents onto a tetraploid .... hmmm.

[newflasker]

Originally Posted by RoyalOrchids

Good info here. I have wondered the same thing as Craig. Let's just say we have two plants in the same genus. Is it possible to self one flower, and pollinate another flower on the same plant with the pollen from a different species? In other words, can one plant carry two seed capsules of different parentage on the same plant at the same time?

I have been doing it all the time. One pod for selfing, two pods for different color species. You can see pods have quite different size (if selfing they have the same size). Must wait for one more year to see what color of flower s will be.

[Orchidflowerchild]

well, having a three way cross in one seedling wouldn't happen. It's a standard sperm and egg arrangement. One spermatazoa pierces the egg cell.

Orchids are pretty well evolved to avoid self-pollination for the most part. Especially the "higher" orchids. For some, those mechanisms to avoid selfing are merely structural, others will not set seed well, when selfed, or even abort the seed capsule.

-Cj

[newflasker]

Originally Posted by Orchidflowerchild

well, having a three way cross in one seedling wouldn't happen. It's a standard sperm and egg arrangement. One spermatazoa pierces the egg cell.

Orchids are pretty well evolved to avoid self-pollination for the most part. Especially the "higher" orchids. For some, those mechanisms to avoid selfing are merely structural, others will not set seed well, when selfed, or even abort the seed capsule.

-Cj

Please don't misunderstand. There's no way that three ways cross in one seedling. There is no child in this world who has 2 or 3 biological fathers, . But a plant can have different pods. The first flower is pollinated by it's pollen and we got what's called selfing. The second flower is pollinated by pollen of another plant's. It's the same with the third flower. So, one orchid can have 3 pods which gives you 3 different kind of seedlings. That is the way we want to save time when crossing. Don't try selfing this year, next year try crossing it with another plant. We are mad scientists and we need more seeds of different kind of orchid for sowing. Cheers.

[Royal]

Originally Posted by newflasker

I have been doing it all the time. One pod for selfing, two pods for different color species.

Exactly what I was wondering. Thanks!


Cj, Thanks for your input. We were talking about different situations, but I appreciate you chiming in. Your comments got me thinking , triploid plants have three sets of genes, right? I know it's not from three distinct parents, but if triploidy is possible, then getting three distinct sets of genes isn't totally out of the realm of possibility - especially in a family that can have hybrids that involve up to 20 distinct species from up to 9 distinct genera. Now that's a lot of gene swapping! Orchids are crazy, I don't count anything out as impossible.