question on cultivars

[hanzy08]

When two plants has the same parents but different cultivars, what is the defining factor for the difference on cultivars? is it genetic or to differentiate one breeder to another?

[Ray]

It is genetic in nature.

A "cultivated variety" or cultivar, is simply a plant selected because of certain displayed traits. Two cultivars of the same plant simply exhibit different traits.

Generally, a cultivar cannot be replicated sexually - the offspring of a "selfing" would display a wide range of traits - which is why you see them cloned.

Changing the cultivar epithet is unethical.

[tucker85]

When two specific parent plants are crossed to produce a new hybrid, that hybrid is given a name. Those same two parents can be bred many times by different breeders and it still retains the same name. When one specific plant, of the resulting seed grown hybrids, is chosen because of superior color or flower shape or any other desirable trait, it can be given a 'cultivar' name. Usually the cultivar name is given to the plant when it wins an award. From then on, only clones of that specific plant can use that cultivar name, also referred to as a 'clonal' name. Small pieces of that specific plant can be cloned into thousands of new plants that are exact copies of the parent plant.

[hanzy08]

Thanks ray and tucker! cause I was looking at vanda pachara delight and there are so many cultivars and I can barely tell the difference from one to the other and I saw the cultivar 'sakate' and they said it's the best blue out there..

[PaphMadMan]

Every orchid cultivar starts out as a single seedling, and includes all divisions and clones of that original plant. When a cross is made it is common to see seedlings for sale, and each will be unique. The cross gets a name if someone registers it. The good ones may get named and propagated as 'cultivars' distinguished by a name in single quotes following the name of the cross (or species). There's really nothing genetic about it except in the sense that every seedling is genetically unique to start, and all plants of a particular cultivar are genetically identical. And it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with breeders at all since anyone can select and name a cultivar. If you are picky about getting exactly the flower you want you have to buy that cultivar.

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

Every orchid cultivar starts out as a single seedling, and includes all divisions and clones of that original plant. When a cross is made it is common to see seedlings for sale, and each will be unique. The cross gets a name if someone registers it. The good ones may get named and propagated as 'cultivars' distinguished by a name in single quotes following the name of the cross (or species). There's really nothing genetic about it except in the sense that every seedling is genetically unique to start, and all plants of a particular cultivar are genetically identical. And it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with breeders at all since anyone can select and name a cultivar. If you are picky about getting exactly the flower you want you have to buy that cultivar.

thanks for replying. yeah I understand it better now. its like having the same parents but the siblings look different although they have similarities in features but of course there's always the best looking sibling lol