Preliminary results indicate that there is an effect of environment on hybrid versus parental fitness. Some hybrid genotypes seem to be capable of outperforming parental genotypes in some conditions. Field site near St. Martinville, Louisiana in early spring 1999. Plants pictured here are a mix of I.fulva, I. brevicaulis and their hybrids, but are virtually indistinguishable before flowers appear. Crosses are being made this growing season to generate seed for this experiment.
Hybrids are often visibly distinct from their parents.
In addition to the more obvious differences in floral color and flower stalk stature, I am measuring ecophysiological characters of I. fulva, I. brevicaulis and their hybrids to compare hybrid and parental phenotypes. I am testing gas exchange and growth charcters to see if they show intermediacy to parents, resemble one parent or the other, or transgress the range of parental phenotypes. I. brevicaulis F 1 hybrid I. fulva I have received generous research support from the American Iris Society , The Society for Louisiana Irises , and the National Council of State Garden Clubs .