Is this a cross, or just a weird bean?

oldmobie
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Is this a cross, or just a weird bean? Jul 18, 2014 22:11:06 GMT -5

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Post by oldmobie on Jul 18, 2014 22:11:06 GMT -5

I know natural crosses are usually considered uncommon, but that they do happen. When they cross, is this season's pod affected? Or does it seem normal until you grow out the seeds? I found this, and I'm not even sure which plant it was on. I'm growing Trionfo Violetto next to Rattlesnake. The picture is the same bean from 3 different angles.

Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. -Mark 4:27 niv

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DebTheFarmer grub Market Gardener, Heirloom Veg Lover, Novice Permaculturist, Future Vegetable Breeder. Posts: 70	Is this a cross, or just a weird bean? Jul 19, 2014 1:24:09 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by DebTheFarmer on Jul 19, 2014 1:24:09 GMT -5 I have no idea what happened… but it looks pretty cool! Like a Chimera gene suddenly popped up.
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raymondo master gardener Posts: 2,101	Is this a cross, or just a weird bean? Jul 19, 2014 7:15:22 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by raymondo on Jul 19, 2014 7:15:22 GMT -5 I think it's just variation in pigment formation. Happens on bean seed coats too.
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oxbowfarm
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Is this a cross, or just a weird bean? Jul 19, 2014 9:40:47 GMT -5

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Post by oxbowfarm on Jul 19, 2014 9:40:47 GMT -5

Pods are maternal tissue, even the seed coat of the beans are maternal tissue, so you can't see a cross in the season it occurs, certainly not by looking at the pod. That's just some weird expression of the pigment. Most likely totally random.

oldmobie
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Is this a cross, or just a weird bean? Jul 19, 2014 15:49:36 GMT -5

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Post by oldmobie on Jul 19, 2014 15:49:36 GMT -5

Thanks, everyone! I know (or think I know) that as a rule of thumb, crosses aren't visible during the season or generation in which the cross occurs. They're only expressed in the future generations. I formerly thought this was true of all plants. I was surprised to learn that crosses in corn are visible immediately, in this season's kernels. So now I question every possible cross: "Is this a cross, already apparent, or a coincidence?".

Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. -Mark 4:27 niv

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oxbowfarm
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Is this a cross, or just a weird bean? Jul 20, 2014 8:58:52 GMT -5 nicollas and oldmobie like this

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Post by oxbowfarm on Jul 20, 2014 8:58:52 GMT -5

Corn is a special case, because you can see through the maternal tissue to the embryonic tissue and sometimes that will tell you something about the embryo and if you have a cross or not. But there are lots of corn crosses you wouldn't be able to detect. The only thing you can see in a corn cross are dominant endosperm or aleurone traits. Anything recessive will be hidden. Almost every other crop has the embryo completely encased in multiple layers of maternal tissue.

littleminnie master gardener grow naturally! Posts: 1,576	Is this a cross, or just a weird bean? Jul 23, 2014 10:14:03 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by littleminnie on Jul 23, 2014 10:14:03 GMT -5 I think it is pure Rattlesnake that got strange pigment as well.
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zeedman Seasoned vet Posts: 311	Is this a cross, or just a weird bean? Jul 26, 2014 15:33:07 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by zeedman on Jul 26, 2014 15:33:07 GMT -5 Ditto. Beans with purple stripes sometimes produce pods with solid purple coloration. The last time I grew "Rattlesnake" I had a few pods that were partially or completely purple.