Re: Florida Sweetheart

From: "Julius Boos" ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 2000.07.14 at 22:50:36(5108) Dear Derek, Thanks so much for the information---I keep planning to visit Bradenton, but never find the time. Would love to discuss the parentages and other 'issues' of Caladium breeding, like where the 'influence' of C. picturatum as a parent 'went', as this distinctive species is mentioned as a 'breeder' in early literature, but I see NO sign of it`s influence in leaf shape or anything else in the 'modern' U.S.-produced Caladiums. The tissue culture does seem to do wonders by eliminating the virus, and stops my 'fear' based on the 'story' that tissue-cultured Caladiums can not produce big/good tubers, the ones I bought of 'Florida Sweetheart' cound NOT have been bigger or better! Thanks again, Julius Boos +More W.P.B., Florida ju-bo@msn.com >Julius - Florida Sweetheart is one of the several great varieties that have come out of the breeding program at the University of Florida-IFAS Bradenton station breeding program. Gary Wilfret could probably give you the parentage, and is also well informed on the the tissue culture possibilities from work which they have done. The clean up does give remarkable results. Derek Burch Fort Lauderdale Zone 10-B, maybe 11

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