Konnichiwa!
This reply hopefully will put a stop to a misunderstanding of the polyploidy I have encountered in my Byblis breeding program.
I wrote on cp discussion group:
“After the ICPS conference in 2002, I showed delegates in my greenhouse a tetraploid Byblis filifolia “Pago Giant" clone. This tetraploid “Pago Giant" clone was smaller than a diploid clone”.
I also showed delegates a juvenile triploid Byblis species Giant clone. Attached to this clone was my memo label where I had written "3n plus minus alpha".
At this same time, I recognized I had created a problem. When the post excursion of delegates especially from those people from Germany and U.S.A. who no doubt noticed my memo "3n plus minus alpha" realized that I had a problem at that time with this clone. Delegates saw that I had written myself this memo "3n plus minus alpha" in regard to my Byblis breeding trial plant. This memo, although not expressed correctly was simply there to remind me about the possible variable ploidy of this plant. What I was trying to record was: theoretically most Byblis species are 2n = 16, 4n = 32, or 3n = 24 (all on 8X), however this plant may possibly not be triploid plant on 3n = 24 but plant on 3n = 23 or 3n = 25.
Yes, I did have a multivalent problem. The tetraployd clones that I made were autopolyploid plants, where chromosomes do not always divide evenly at meiosis. I realized that it was not possible to escape from this problem, and I stopped the polyploid breeding program temporarily.
The pictures (photo14,15,16&17) that Stephen-san saw were taken in my greenhouse. All plants were diploid plants and not hybrids between very pure variations (from each location).
The potted colour Byblis plants, that the Japanese cp growers obtained from Japanese garden centers, were not triploid clones.
photo 14:
photo 15: two pots of the Byblis species variation from Pago region. There were seven plants in each pot.
photo 16:
photo 17:
Byblis that I have bred for the potted colour Garden Centre market here in Japan, display all the characters that are very desirable for the general public. I achieve this end by raising plants with stable characters using seed that has been produced by the cross-pollination of 2 of my previously selected clones from the same very pure variation (from each location).
I can replicate a reliable potted colour clone en masse only by using the seed from these selected crosses. The resulting plant by itself is incapable of replicating itself true to form from its own seed if it is not sterile.
My potted colour Byblis plants are mostly purchased by the public as an alternative to a bunch of flowers, as a cheer-me-up or as a present for a loved one. These plants satisfy this desire and are more often than not simply discarded when they become straggly and lose their original beauty.
However, these same clones I believe do not measure up to the standards that true cp growers strive for. That is plants that can reproduce themselves and stay true to type.
I believe true cp growers much prefer to grow Byblis from seeds, from suppliers such as Mr. Allen Lowrie, Triffid nursery in U.K. and seed banks of cp societies around the world.
When I first grew tropical Byblis (excluding B.liniflora), I was very surprised because all of the tropical Byblis species grew into really OUTSTANDING PLANTS. Especially the giant clones! So, I decided I wanted to make even larger plants. One of the methods I thought I could use to achieve this desire was to selectively breed for triploid clones.
Previously, on cp discussion group someone wrote:
“The photos of some Japanese grower's Byblis filifolia plants are un-freaking-believable. In fact, I do not believe them!!! Until I see one a Byblis filifolia in the flesh, I refuse to believe these plants exist.”
I can assure you that all plants in the pictures are real and not fake or computer generated images.
The plants in the pictures express only a few of the characters that I ultimately desire in a Byblis clone. All plants in the pictures were in my opinion less outstanding and less impressive in comparison to the very first plants I raised from Mr. Allen Lowrie's seeds.
Hopefully, in the future, I may be able to raise potential cultivars worthy of registration on the ICPS cultivar list.
This message was posted simply to clear the air of any potential future misunderstandings so please do not reply this message!
Kind regards