Phalaenopsis lobbii X Haraella odorata project

[Tindomul]

Hello everyone,

I a few months ago decided to try out the wacky idea of crossing a Phalaenopsis lobbii with a Haraella odorata. I finally got the chance to do this about 2-3 weeks ago when the stars finally alighned themsleves, I mean the two species decided to coordinate a few blooms.
Ok, here is what its looking like today, 2 and a half weeks later.
Well first here is the P. lobbi when in full glory:

and now post pollination:




And here is the Haraella odorata

post pollination:





What I've decided to do is let the seed pod, hopefully two seed pods (one on each parent) develop and then look at the seeds under the scope. THis way I will be able to determine if they are fertile or not. If they are I will send them to a pro for flasking. And hopefully I will have a bunch of unique little plants
What do you all think? Cross those fingers for successful fertilization!!

[Frdemetr]

Congrats Tindo! Very interesting (and little bit weird!) cross! I'm not a botanist, but I ask you: do you know if the two genera have the same cromossome number? This is my fear when I think to cross two different genera....
Good luck!

[Phalguy]

Hello Frdemetr !

Do you know where i can find that kind of information, about chromosome number difference in genera?

thanks

[Dorothy]

I love the little lobbii

Omg ! Post pollination?

Did you find it smoking a cigarette at that time?

[justatypn]

Very interesting Tindo, hope they are fertile, first step, keep us updated. Once you find they are fertile, you can decide on a name

[Tindomul]

Originally Posted by justatypn

Very interesting Tindo, hope they are fertile, first step, keep us updated. Once you find they are fertile, you can decide on a name

I too want to find out if the chromosome counts are the same or what. I hope they are fertile, and then I can decide on a whole slew of names for all the little siblings!!! Am I right in assuming that each seedling would be genetically different enough to warrant its own name?

[cb977]

Way to go, Tin!

You've taken the nest step!!!
Keep us updated

[Frdemetr]

Originally Posted by Phalguy

Hello Frdemetr !

Do you know where i can find that kind of information, about chromosome number difference in genera?

thanks

Phalguy,
I don't know where to find this info, but I think searching the web (with time and patient) you can find...
Closed-allied genera (with previous fertile crosses) for sure have the same cromossome number (e.g. cattleya, laelia, brassavola, sophronitis). I remember (but I'm not sure) tha catt-alliance orchids have 40(?) cromossomes, and Phals 36(??); so, a cross Catt x Phal never will be fertile.
Curiosity: Certain genera (Zygopetalum mainly) produces a capsule doesn't matter the polen you put in their; of course, if the number of cromossomes are different, the seeds are infertile. However, sometime are few fertile seeds even in that conditions, amongst a great number of infertiles, but the plants originated from that seeds are identical to the mother orchid (Zygo)! A kind of 'partenogenesis'! Weird!

[Tindomul]

Parthenogenesis in plants!! Who would have thought.

[Phalguy]

Thank you !