Re: Variegated agave origins

Dear Peyton,

It all depends on what kind of variegation you are talking about.

Variegation refers to leaves or flowers that are marked or banded with another color and there are several different causes for it and more than one type can exist in a single cultivar at the same time.

In Sansevieria for example, the fawn-like cross band leaf variegation is a genetically heritable trait carried in nuclear DNA while the lengthwise white or yellow stripe variegation is chimeral in origin and caused by contrasting layers of albino and green cells and is not heritable. 

Sansevieria trifasciata 'Laurentii' showing two different types of variegation occurring together.
http://www.floraguide.es/arboles/Sansevieria%20trifasciata%20Laurentii.jpg

Variegated "Coleus" cultivars. 
http://www.picoftheweb.com/gardening/coleus.jpg

Variegation can also be cause by viral infection such as in "Rembrandt Tulips" and "Flowering Maples" or it can be a trait carried by the plastids as in variegated "Four O' Clocks".

"Rembrandt Tulips" variegated flowers
http://www.johnscheepers.com/photos/thumbs/5976.THUMB.jpg

"Flowering Maples" variegated foliage
http://www.plantstogo.com/images/abutilonpictumthird220.JPG

Mirabilis jalapa (Four O' Clocks) with variegated flowers on the right.
http://moongardens.tripod.com/fours.htm

Variegation can also be a result of poor nutrition and resulting chlorotic leaf growth.

***************************

Chimeral variegation can occur spontaneously in seedlings and plants at any stage of growth.

Both heritable and chimeral variegation can be induced by using certain mutigenic chemicals but it is not recommended that one use them because the chemicals are extremely toxic and carcinogenic.

Cereusly Steve


--- In agaveforum@y..., "rpw53" <rpw53@y...> wrote:
> Does anyone know the source of the numerous variegated agave 
> cultivars that the Japanese come up with?  
> Are these sports from non-variegated plants?
> Or are they chance seedlings?
> 
> Regards,
> Peyton Walton


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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