I have 25 years experience hybridizing Hibiscus so know the mechanics of producing seedlings, but need to learn what is involved in doing same with impatiens.

I would appreciate any advice given or referral to sources of information on Impatiens. As well, I am more than willing to share my experiences with hybridizing hibiscus, both modern day and involving original species crosses.

On the subject of hibiscus, a recent topic involving mutations and violet light makes me wonder if anyone has any information on doing the same with hibiscus ?

Regards, Brian Kerr.

I don't have much on the subject except some of Lucien Reychler's curious results from traumatic pollination of Impatiens.

Karl

Thanks again.
Regards, Brian Kerr.

I once read an article on some difficulties with Hibiscus breeding, but don't have the source. As I recall, some species of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis group are native to islands of very different chemical constitution. A volcanic island, for example, is very different from a coral atoll. The micronutrient (trace mineral) requirements vary among the species -- each adapting to whatever is available on its native island.

The upshot is that hybrid progeny can segregate for micronutrient requirements, which means that some will be fertile while others are sterile if the essential nutrient is not available.

William Herbert, in the mid-19th century, observed that fertility/sterility of hybrids seemed to have more to do with the similarity/difference of native habitat than with the apparent affinity of the species. That is, two aquatic species are more likely to produce fertile hybrid offspring than an aquatic and a xerophytic species.

By the way, intergeneric hybrids in the Malvaceae are known. I have a report on a hybrid of cotton (Gossypium sp.) and Alcea rosea that resulted in an early maturing strain of cotton.

I once pollinated okra (Hibiscus esculentus) by a garden form of H. rosa-sinensis and got seeds. Unfortunately, I lost the seeds when I moved from Florida to California, and have not repeated the experiment.

Karl

Thanks, Brian Kerr.