SPORTING OR MUTATION

Articles In This Section:

· ELEMENTS OF HEREDITY AND PLANT-BREEDING

· SPORTING OR MUTATION

· RADIANCE & GOLDEN DAWN & OPHELIA

· MANUAL FERTILIZATION AND CHANCE CROSSING - Part 1

· MANUAL FERTILIZATION AND CHANCE CROSSING - Part 2

· SEEDS AND SEED BEDS

· THE CARE OF SEEDLINGS

Growth is the term used to signify division of existing cells to produce new cells of greater number. In this process the chromosomes separate and re-combine. Unless they do so exactly as before, some variation is produced and is called a "sport" or "mutant". The new cells with the new arrangement of chromosomes continue to multiply, producing growth. Thus a bush rose may sport and produce a climbing shoot, or any rose may sport and on its new branch produce blooms of a different colour. The great majority of such changes are so slight as to escape notice. Often an odd plant of some variety will be found growing much better than usual. The difference may be due to any one of many factors, but one of these possible factors is mutation. Advantage is frequently taken of this by nurserymen when propagating, so as to produce good vigorous plants for sale.

Climbing sports of bush roses are very common, and sports by way of colour variation are becoming frequent, possibly due to more intense inbreeding. Roses may sport in both ways. Good examples are: