Hybridizing Thoughts

[rainforest]

This thread will be our genetic planning thinking. We will review hybrids from previous breeding efforts to examine-reexamine ideas and goals to be achieved through breeding specific hybrids and species together. This Think-Tank will hopefully help aid in the realization of what to expect from previous breeding efforts. Before you just brush pollen from nepenthes A and pollinate it with nepenthes B, get to know what kind of results are possible before this lengthy time consuming, expensive trials begin.
We will begin with basic hybrids and observe what features and characteristics have been noted and cross comparing a specific species to various other parents to see how it behaved in each respective cross. Then we can extrapolate what we can expect from crosses before we make them.

Michael

[rainforest]

One consideration we as breeders must face is to predetermine what upper pitchers of our hybrids will look like. The majority of nepenthes spend a very short period of time as a rosette and soon becomes a vining plant bearing uppers. It is during this stage when flowering occurs and we, as growers will spend more time with plants bearing mature pitchers.

This upper of N. thorelii x TM shows us that uppers can also be attractive, if not interesting than our lower pitcher forms.
N. talangensis imparts beautiful uppers into its progeny. Here is N. ventricosa x talangensis uppers and a flowering example.



Species such as N. lowii have very distinct uppers and when crossed with another species they take on some of their coloration and habit while in keeping with these strong traits that come forward no matter what. This is such an example of N. lowii x ventricosa.

The veitchii holds strong in the juvenile stage, but once the plant matures into uppers, the irregular wide mouth predominates.
M

[rainforest]

Determining the outcome shape of the nepenthes pitcher, whether upper or lower, needs to be seen from previously made hybrids. N. veitchii has strong characteristics that always supersedes whatever is used in the hybrid result. Here, N. mirabilis x veitchii almost resembles a pure veitchii.

Another characteristic that is also dominant is the growth habit of leaves in a two-ranked format.
While most species have a rosette habit, N. veitchii makes leaves in alternating fashion.

Even as a complex hybrid, N. veitchii dominates the look. This is N. thorelii x (northiana x veitchii).

And again in this rafflesiana x veitchii hybrid.

And a glimpse of N. lowii x veitchii.

And note while N. veitchii is in full force, the hairs from lowii above the lid still is evident in this combination.

M

[rainforest]

A species not too frequently seen in hybrids is N. fusca. This species has an appeal for me and when used in a hybrid, they tend to bring out the best in the other parent's genes. The controversial N. platychila introgressed with N. fusca is a well known topic. N. fusca clearly brings out the characteristics of platychila while maintaining the growth integrity of N. fusca.


In this hybrid of N. fusca x veitchii, again we see the features of N. veitchii dominant, yet the finer tones from N. fusca softens the veitchii features and adds the peculiar dominant narrow lid.

This hybrid is the smallest of several seedling siblings and has a pronounced coloration in the peristome. While lacking in stripes, the wide veitchii peristome has flushes of color as seen in fusca. N. fusca also has a strong dominance for making the peristome colors darker or at least more pronounced. A narrow lid is a dominant feature this species overrides in its offspring.

I would like to see more N. fusca used in hybridization as their true potential has still not been achieved. With more unusual forms being discovered, I think N. fusca will add great benefits to hybrids.

M

[rainforest]

While N. sibuyanensis adds greatly to enhance squatty pitchers, another trait also imparted to its offspring is uppers with more green-pale yellow coloration.
These traits alone do not detract from the beauty of having sibuyanensis influenced in the offspring, but again, looked as building blocks to create something else.
Here is N. sibuyanensis x truncata squat making some attractive lowers.


M

[rainforest]

N. campanulata has already been used in breeding and has shown to be wuite successful in making compact hybrids. This truncata x campanulata is a prime example of such a success.

Another interesting feature is N. campanulata does not develop a true upper pitcher and its shape is bell-shaped throughout its cycle. It will be interesting if N. campanulata makes underground rhizomes/suckers as it multiplies.

M