[IBC] Japanese Maples From Seed (now X-rated!)
I was wondering why is it that seed from a knwon
japanese maple cultivator can sometimes retain none of its parents charecteristics. And can look like a totally different cultivator, but a cutting retains them all? Because a seed results from sexual reproduction of two (or sometimes more!) trees, each (even if they are carefully developed cultivars) with slightly different genes that combine with a certain amount of unpredictable randomness. The progeny may be "similar" but not identical, or they may even revert to the type speciman (or men) that were used to create the cultivar. Cultivars, after all, are artificially created, plants that we have forced into shapes and colors WE like, but which are not necessarily of evolutionary benefit to the plant. Given the opportunity (represented by the sexual "act" that results in seeds) the plants will revert to something that DOES have an evolutionary benefit of some kind -- probably seeds that are more viable). Cuttings are an (usually involuntary) a-sexual means of reproduction -- in other words, clones. They only contain the genes of THE parent plant. Biology 101 (A.K.A. Sex and the Survival of Society) Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - "People, when Columbus discovered this country, it was plum full of nuts and berries. And I'm right here to tell you the berries are just about all gone." -- Uncle Dave Macon, old-time musician ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Jerry Meislik++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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