Dahlia Seedlings

Hi everyone, I have a question about dahlia genetics. I saved seeds from a black leafed dahlia plant last year. I started the seeds last week and they have all just started to sprout, however the seedlings are not black like the parent plant and are green. I realise dahlias can change from pollination but I did not realise that you can have the folliage change colour. I don't mind what the flower looks like as I have saved the parent bulb and have started that off to take cuttings. Can anyone explain the colour change of the folliage and if anyone has had the same thing happen.

 

Mendelian genetics. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendelian_inheritance

 

To summarise Kristen's Mendelian genetics. If the two parents are very, very pure bred (ie genetically identical) their seed will be an exact copy of the parents. This is how you can get some pure bred seeds that give precise colours etc. However, if the parents are not pure bred, which is usually the case, the offspring will be variable and you can have a throwback to a trait from any one of its ancestors. In this case, cuttings or division are the only way of ensuring an offspring that is identical.

 

ok, im just throwing something into the mix here, as I may learn something myself, or prove that I am indeed very stupid

Are the seedlings you have still at the seed leaf stage ben? The only reason I ask, I am growing a type of Coleus called Palisandra, which has almost pure black foliage, but the seed leaves are green... though I'm 99.9% sure that the next leaves will show some signs of colour when they begin to mature.

 

Thanks everyone for your advice. Lukenotts its interesting you say that, so far they are only green. If they do change colour I will be happy, I sowed more of the seeds again earlier in the event that they do come up black. But I will have to wait a few more days to see if this is the case. The original one is called Sunshine which is a yellow flower with red towards the centre, so it will be interesting to see what the seedlings end up looking like in the summer. I guess from what you say Luke that I will have to wait a few more weeks to see if they change colour. Hopefully you are right and they will.

 

I hope they do change colour for you... however, I'm by far a novice, especially regarding Dahlias, and I would take more notice of the advice given from kristen and peter who will know more about them than me.

I've sown a few dahlia seeds for the first time this year, so I'm yet to see what they look like at the seedling stage!

Good luck with your plants!

 

Thanks Luke, I hope they turn out ok too. This is my second year at growing Dahlias so i'm still learning myself, I mostly grew from seed last year and just bought a couple of tubers. I dug up the best tubers and have now started the ones i've saved. I'm also doing the seeds as I have a much bigger space to plant this year so I want more plants. I tend to go for the more shorter plants and avoid anything over 100 cm. The largest plants I had last year was the pom poms which were quite beautiful and others known as coltness mix from suttons. The best for me was an orange and yellow colour, i started the tuber from that today so I hope it comes back. I do have seeds I saved, but you never know what that would turn out like.

But thanks again everyone, I will wait and see the outcome of them all and let you know :thumb:

 

Ben, as Lukenotts has suggested there might be something else at work - rather than genetics. Seedleaves are not true leaves and could be a different colour.

There is also the influence of light levels. For instance Lobelia 'Queen Victoria' has lovely purple leaves if you grow it in full sun, but if you grow it in the shade they tend to revert back to green. Light levels are low at the moment.

 

Ok thanks PeterS,

just have to wait and see how it goes. My seeds are getting much bigger now so I will let you know if they change colour.

 

Yes Ben, keep us updated... i've a feeling that your not the only one interested in what is going to happen here :WINK1:

I for one would like to know! :D

 

All I know about Dahlias is they are short day plants - ie - they will not flower until after the summer equinox. So no point in rushing to get them started. A lot of work can be saved by just starting them later. They will flower in July whether you plant them in January or April.

 

Could have done with knowing that yesterday :DOH: Seed packets seem to tell little lies!
At least I havent sown many

Yet another example where personal experience shines

 

If anyone is interested, I made some notes some time ago on Dahlias here http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/Thread-Dahlias-10-things-you-didn-t-know.html?highlight=Dahlias

 

Hello everyone well after waiting a long time I finally have true seedlings, and I'm sorry to say they are green not black. It will be interesting to see what the flower looks like now.

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As you say Ben - you will have to wait and see. Whilst I wouldn't have expected all the seedlings to turn out the same as the parents - I would expect some to be close.