Hybridizing

African Violets

at the Violet Patch of South Florida

Demonstration by Rick Gray on hybridizing African violet

 Having trouble see the video, go to www.apple.com/quicktime to download the plugin.

A couple of weeks after Rick Gray's demonstration (see video above) I tried hybridizing and to my amazement it worked. See the photos below and on the right as the process enfolds.

Click to enlarge the photos

(1) Before ferterlization

11/6/11

(2) After ferterlization

11/13/11

(3) Seed pod forming

11/27/11

(4) Seed pod growing wider

12/3/11

Continued on the right column.

The stamen, tipped with anthers is considered the male part. It carries the pollen. The pistil (not seen) consists of the ovary, style and stigma and produces the seeds. It is considered the female part.

A bloom stalk is a spray of blossoms on a stem that grows between the leaves.

A peduncle is the stem that supports the entire blossom cluster.

A bud is an unopened or partly opened blossom.

Process starts on left column with (1)

Click to enlarge the photos

(5) Of all the blooms on the plant only the ferterlized bloom has faded (left front)

12/10/11

(5a) Lifting up the petals you can still see the green pod under the petals.

12/10/11

(6) White yarn is tied around the ferterlized pod.

12/18/11

More Photos Coming

Reprinted with the permission of Dr. Jeff Smith

Remember that a "Dominant" trait will be passed on from just one parent to half or all of the offspring. "Recessive" traits must be inherited from both parents and are somewhat harder to get expressed in the offspring. This is because recessive traits may be visible in the parent, or they can be hidden by the presence of the dominant trait.

Maternal Traits (inherited through the seed parent): Tommie Lou and Crown Variegation, Mosaic Variegation (expression of potential)

Linked Traits (usually inherited together) Raspherry Edge and Pink/Red Flower Color; Ruffled flowers and Ruffled foliage; Wasp flowers and Bustled foliage

A blossom is a collection
of plant parts that is responsible for seed production. It is made
up of sepals, petals, stamens, ovary, style,
and stigma.

A pedicel is the stem supporting an individual blossom or bud in a cluster.

A petiole is the stem that connects the blade of the leaf to the crown

Macro of the stamen & pistils

amazing photo by "Photo by Jeff on Flickr"
link to see all his African violet photos on Flickr.

List of known genetic traits in African violets

Flower Traits

Dominant	Recessive
Violet Shape (pansy shape)	Star Shape
Wasp Shape	Other Shapes
Geneva Edges	Solid Edges
Raspberry Edges	Solid Edges
Colored Edges	Non-Colored Edges
Green Edges	Non-Colored Edges
Fringed Edges	Non-Fringed Edges
Wavy Edges	Non Wavy

Edges Traits

Dominant

Recessive

Fantasy Pattern (dot)	Solid Flowers
Fantasy Pattern (puff)	Solid Flowers
Double Flowers	Single Flowers
Semi-Double Flowers	Single Flowers
Stick Tight Single Flowers	Dropping Single Flowers
Pale Colors	Dark Colors
Blue Flowers	All Other Colors
Red Flowers	Pink, Yellow, White
Yellow Flowers	White Flowers
Non-Coral Colors	Coral Family Colors
Coral Blue Flowers	Coral Red or Coral Pink
Coral Red Flowers	Coral Pink
Bluing Factor	Non-Bluing
Mottled Flowers	Non-Mottled Flowers
Dogwood Dots	Solid Flowers
Thumbprint Flowers	Solid Flowers
Long Bloom Stalks	Short Bloom Stalks
Small Groups of Flowers	Mass Grouping of Flowers
Presentation Type	Presentation Type

Leaf Traits