This post is about the evolution of an orchid’s quality as it’s genetics change. I am using Phragmipedium Fritz Schomburg (kovachii x besseae), registered in 2007 by Glen Decker at Piping Rock Orchids, as an example. Glen and Fritz were two of the small initial group of orchid growers who legally imported Phrag. kovachii to the USA and then propagated it and hybridized with it for legal sale.
Orchid judging is a bit like Olympic equestrian competition in having no gender or weight class separations. The skill of the trainer/rider (grower) is important, but the genetics of the horse (orchid) are critical. There have been mixed views over the years about the competition between natural diploid (2N) “wild type” orchids and polyploid plants (triploid/3N, tetraploid/4N, and even higher ploidy), particularly when these are chemically induced. Our understanding of the issue has been hindered by the lack of accurate and reasonable ways to determine the genetics of an orchid plant.
Even in the early days of wild orchid collection, the basics of plant genetics were understood, and growers knew that some obviously superior plants were genetically different from the standard wild type plants. These superior species were used disproportionately to create heritage hybrids and were line bred to create superior species for future breeding. Thus, many of our foundational species and hybrids were not 2N.
Modern studies show that polyploidy can result in more compact plants with wider and thicker leaves, though they may be slower growing. The flowers can be larger with greater substance and longevity and sometimes color can be more intense. Colchicine began to be used in the 1950s and there are now at least 5 different agents used to increase the ploidy level of germinating plants (either from seed or meristem tissue). These agents are not easy to use and they can kill the plants or fail to induce polyploidy. Polyploidy was induced in only about 70% of two carefully controlled colchicine experiments with Cattleya and the rate is likely lower in routine use. When we buy a plant or flask from a chemical conversion attempt, we have to be prepared for the possibility that the plant will not have an increase in ploidy.
The first Phrag Fritz Schomburg (FS) plants were probably mostly 2N and the first AOS awards were in 2008/2009. The first awarded flowers were about 10-11 cm wide, frequently not round or closed, and often with paler color. The following page from Orchid Roots shows many likely 2N FS.
Phragmipedium Fritz Schomburg
Successive crops of FS then appeared every few years and the flowers improved. Eventually, a few 4N besseae became available to make 3N FS and these plants were improved in shape and size (up to 11-12 cm with an occasional 13). David (monocotman) showed his 3N FS from Orchids Limited in the following Slippertalk post and it is about as good as a 3N FS can be.
As good as it gets. The best triploid Fritz.
A few others have posted similarly nice 3N FS pictures. My 3N FS from an Orchids Limited cross (kovachii ‘Tesoro Morado’ x besseae ‘Rob’s Choice’) is currently in bloom for the sixth time and it has good width (11.5-12 cm) and configuration, but I don’t think it is as quite as flat or dark as David’s.
I suspect that the first awarded 4N FS might have been awarded in 2019 to Woodstream Orchids for ‘Eddy Lick Run’. It received an FCC (93 points) and had a horizontal width of 14.4 cm and a petal width of 5.5 cm. The shape was pretty round, closed and symmetrical. Here is a link to the OrchidsPro award page.
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PeteM posted a picture of his plant from Woodstream that I think might have been related to ‘Eddy Lick Run’ because it had a similar appearance.
Phrag. Fritz Schomburg
Orchids Limited now has 2 FS that they think are 4N, both coming from crosses in which chemical conversion had been used with parents. They posted the first plant to bloom on Facebook in February 2021 and I copied it to the following Slippertalk post.
Fritz Schomburg triploid and tetraploid
This same FS is now blooming a year later, and here is a picture of Jerry Fischer holding it in his hand.
The width is 14 cm and the petal width is 5 cm. The substance is heavy and the flower is round and closed. The color looks pretty red to me. I am sure there will be other 4N FS made and the good ones will be similarly large, round, and dark. They will be the pinnacle (and the end) of breeding for FS.
However, Jerry mentioned many plans to use these tetraploid FS in breeding with newer Phrag species or in recreating older hybrids, expecting that various aspects of the flowers can be improved but this will be many years in the making. In a statement that at least some of us can relate to he said, “I hope I get to live long enough to see it.” Amen to that.
Orchid judging is a bit like Olympic equestrian competition in having no gender or weight class separations. The skill of the trainer/rider (grower) is important, but the genetics of the horse (orchid) are critical. There have been mixed views over the years about the competition between natural diploid (2N) “wild type” orchids and polyploid plants (triploid/3N, tetraploid/4N, and even higher ploidy), particularly when these are chemically induced. Our understanding of the issue has been hindered by the lack of accurate and reasonable ways to determine the genetics of an orchid plant.
Even in the early days of wild orchid collection, the basics of plant genetics were understood, and growers knew that some obviously superior plants were genetically different from the standard wild type plants. These superior species were used disproportionately to create heritage hybrids and were line bred to create superior species for future breeding. Thus, many of our foundational species and hybrids were not 2N.
Modern studies show that polyploidy can result in more compact plants with wider and thicker leaves, though they may be slower growing. The flowers can be larger with greater substance and longevity and sometimes color can be more intense. Colchicine began to be used in the 1950s and there are now at least 5 different agents used to increase the ploidy level of germinating plants (either from seed or meristem tissue). These agents are not easy to use and they can kill the plants or fail to induce polyploidy. Polyploidy was induced in only about 70% of two carefully controlled colchicine experiments with Cattleya and the rate is likely lower in routine use. When we buy a plant or flask from a chemical conversion attempt, we have to be prepared for the possibility that the plant will not have an increase in ploidy.
The first Phrag Fritz Schomburg (FS) plants were probably mostly 2N and the first AOS awards were in 2008/2009. The first awarded flowers were about 10-11 cm wide, frequently not round or closed, and often with paler color. The following page from Orchid Roots shows many likely 2N FS.
Phragmipedium Fritz Schomburg
Successive crops of FS then appeared every few years and the flowers improved. Eventually, a few 4N besseae became available to make 3N FS and these plants were improved in shape and size (up to 11-12 cm with an occasional 13). David (monocotman) showed his 3N FS from Orchids Limited in the following Slippertalk post and it is about as good as a 3N FS can be.
As good as it gets. The best triploid Fritz.
A few others have posted similarly nice 3N FS pictures. My 3N FS from an Orchids Limited cross (kovachii ‘Tesoro Morado’ x besseae ‘Rob’s Choice’) is currently in bloom for the sixth time and it has good width (11.5-12 cm) and configuration, but I don’t think it is as quite as flat or dark as David’s.
I suspect that the first awarded 4N FS might have been awarded in 2019 to Woodstream Orchids for ‘Eddy Lick Run’. It received an FCC (93 points) and had a horizontal width of 14.4 cm and a petal width of 5.5 cm. The shape was pretty round, closed and symmetrical. Here is a link to the OrchidsPro award page.
Login
PeteM posted a picture of his plant from Woodstream that I think might have been related to ‘Eddy Lick Run’ because it had a similar appearance.
Phrag. Fritz Schomburg
Orchids Limited now has 2 FS that they think are 4N, both coming from crosses in which chemical conversion had been used with parents. They posted the first plant to bloom on Facebook in February 2021 and I copied it to the following Slippertalk post.
Fritz Schomburg triploid and tetraploid
This same FS is now blooming a year later, and here is a picture of Jerry Fischer holding it in his hand.
The width is 14 cm and the petal width is 5 cm. The substance is heavy and the flower is round and closed. The color looks pretty red to me. I am sure there will be other 4N FS made and the good ones will be similarly large, round, and dark. They will be the pinnacle (and the end) of breeding for FS.
However, Jerry mentioned many plans to use these tetraploid FS in breeding with newer Phrag species or in recreating older hybrids, expecting that various aspects of the flowers can be improved but this will be many years in the making. In a statement that at least some of us can relate to he said, “I hope I get to live long enough to see it.” Amen to that.
Probably not the best phrag to restart with…
