tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352076248333591052.post2646772752870752914..comments2024-03-17T20:03:11.733+00:00Comments on Radix: Crap Crops of the Incas: My on-off-on affair with high altitude Andean root crops 2) UllucoRhizowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13898344291012563139noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352076248333591052.post-89241892409628350412012-02-07T14:43:57.784+00:002012-02-07T14:43:57.784+00:00Hi there, I've just tumbled upon your fascinat...Hi there, I've just tumbled upon your fascinating blog after buying Eric Tonesmeier's Perennial Veg book! I'm somewhat bewildered by the range there. I live as a Brit in icy Bavaria. Which easy crops would you recommend to start with?Jeremy Stockshttp://iamrogertheshrubber.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352076248333591052.post-90906200063382421732010-04-17T07:41:57.899+01:002010-04-17T07:41:57.899+01:00Hi Rebsie
Yes, ulluco can be damnably frustrating...Hi Rebsie<br /><br />Yes, ulluco can be damnably frustrating to grow and does seem to be very susceptible to slugs and snails. The realist in me thinks this is sufficient evidence for abandoning growing it, the optimist hopes for better adapted, more vigorous varieties.Rhizowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13898344291012563139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352076248333591052.post-26841384863614657232010-04-14T11:53:46.650+01:002010-04-14T11:53:46.650+01:00I have to confess my own experiment with ulluco di...I have to confess my own experiment with ulluco didn't even yield plants, let alone tubers. I hadn't anticipated how irresistible they were to slugs and snails. No sooner had each chirpy little pink sprout emerged above ground, it vanished into the osculum of some slimy annihilator. Maybe I'll try again some time.Rebsie Fairholmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17811733792196954188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352076248333591052.post-12791099540610220202009-02-18T16:23:00.000+00:002009-02-18T16:23:00.000+00:00A local university may be able to help with the ro...A local university may be able to help with the root tip squashes, if you approach them and explain what you are trying to do you may be able to work something out, particularly if one of the students needs a research project.<BR/><BR/>Most of my research into chromosome doubling is in the field of rose breeding and I'm no expert, but it is usually applied to diploid/tetraploid crosses, so it may have some benefit. And as you say, triploids are generally moderately fertile. <BR/><BR/>I would suspect that the triploids are better used as pollen donors than seed parents. Triploids would probably produce some fertile diploid and tetraploid pollen and could be used as pollen parents on both diploid and tetraploid selections.<BR/><BR/>I will be working with Ulluco myself this year (thanks to Catofstripes for the triad). I'm interested in developing it as a perennial leaf crop, more through selection and development of an appropriate cultural practice, but I hope to obtain seed myself some day. <BR/><BR/>I may need to collect a few more varieties first but at least I have a start on it now. A day length neutral selection would definitely be something worth pursuing.<BR/><BR/>keep us posted, and let me know if I can help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352076248333591052.post-84266078266094776362009-02-18T14:08:00.000+00:002009-02-18T14:08:00.000+00:00Hi Big HairI agree that determination of ploidy le...Hi Big Hair<BR/><BR/>I agree that determination of ploidy level would be very useful. Root tip squashes would be ideal for this. I wish I had more time, oh and money for all of this. We need to develop a database of all the accessions knocking around in Europe using the descriptors developed at CIP as well as working out correct ploidy levels. <BR/><BR/>Chromosome doubling seems like a good idea worth attempting with the tripoids, although my understanding is that this would be most effective with allotripoids (AAB) rather than autotriploids (AAA). Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't know, but am assuming that ulluco is an autotriploid, the product, perhaps, of dipoid x tetraploid crosses. In some cases tripoids can actually be moderately fertile. If potatoes are anything to go by, then day neutral traits are recessive. Sow and grow, sow and grow. We also need botanical seed and varieties from the southernmost range of the species. Watch this space (but not too often).Rhizowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13898344291012563139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352076248333591052.post-85714104575053845512009-02-18T12:41:00.000+00:002009-02-18T12:41:00.000+00:00I have to agree that we should persist with this c...I have to agree that we should persist with this crop. <BR/><BR/>If removing the viruses doesn't help you could look at getting root tip squashes done and have the chromosomes counted. <BR/><BR/>This would allow you to identify your diploid, triploid,and tetraploid lines and then breed diploid to diploid and tetraploid to tetraploid. knowing what you are working with would save you a lot of time and effort in the long run.<BR/><BR/>The triploids could also be treated with Colchicine to produce more fertile polyploids. doubling the chromosomes also has an affect on plant morphology and vigour and could result in larger tubers being produced.<BR/><BR/>Worth a try?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3352076248333591052.post-12004306045779251822009-02-18T12:39:00.000+00:002009-02-18T12:39:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com