Genetics or Deficiency ?
- Thread starter slyone
- Start date
slyone
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the heads up on the calcium def, but I am thinking it may have been when I watered, when I put her outside when the sun was shining strong. I am thinking it is down to genetics also as some of the others have not shown it before. She is a 2nd generation clone so maybe the gene pool is faulty or unstable in some way maybe? Thank you for your input but I am inclined to agree, unless anyone else would like to contribute based on their knowledge.
roseypeach
Well-Known Member
It looks like variegation, maybe genetic, maybe viral.
Variegation is the appearance of differently colored zones in the leaves, and sometimes the stems, of plants. Variegated leaves occur rarely in nature.
Viral disease symptoms:
Variegation is the appearance of differently colored zones in the leaves, and sometimes the stems, of plants. Variegated leaves occur rarely in nature.
Viral disease symptoms:
- Mosaic leaf pattern.
- Crinkled leaves.
- Yellowed leaves.
- Plant stunting.
rob333
Well-Known Member
think it has to do with the mud u have in the pots and the plants not eating right
slyone
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the information. It is a word I have heard before but have never had any reason to research what it is. Will do some reading up and some investigation. More food for some thought. Very much appreciated
slyone
Well-Known Member
The mud in the pot is home made compost and I think it may have had some blood, fish and bonemeal added plus they had just had a good watering just before the picture was taken if that sheds any more light ?
rob333
Well-Known Member
i have seen plants do that in compacted soil if u have made it yourself its prob well drained then
slyone
Well-Known Member
I must admit I have never had a compacting problem with my home compost but before I watered them yesterday the soil was dry and did have the appearance of compaction. I will investigate this also. Thank you
slyone
Well-Known Member
Here is what I have found so far, some good info to be had
Variegation in plants can occur for a number of reasons, but most commonly it is a genetic “experiment” or “mistake” (depending on one’s evolutionary point of view) that occasionally appears in nature. A white variegation is the result of a plant’s inability to produce any pigment in that area. Orange, yellow, and light green leaf colors result from a lesser production of the green pigment chlorophyll, unmasking the orange carotenoid and yellow xanthophyll pigments and allowing them to appear. Shades of pink, red, and purple are the result of anthocyanin pigments. If produced in sufficient quantities, they can mask even the green chlorophyll. Interestingly enough, most temperate deciduous trees and shrubs produce these colors by these same mechanisms in the Fall, but variegation only applies to leaves with these colors all the time.
The pattern of variegation on a leaf depends on which cells carry the genetic information for the non-green color. Sometimes it is totally random and gives a speckled appearance, or can be quite uniform. For example, Dracaena marginata, a common indoor plant, has green leaves with red margins. Not all of the cell layers of the leaf extend to the edge, and in this case the layers with abundant red pigment do, but the layers with only green pigment do not.
Some variegations can be unstable, with variegated plants producing all green or all white (albino) shoots or leaves. Wandering Jew plants, Swedish Ivies, English Ivies, Screw Pines, Creeping Figs, Peperomias, and Geraniums are just some of the common species whose variegated members this writer has seen revert. This can occur in spite of efforts to remove all green or albino shoots as they appear. Some things are just not meant to be.
Propagating variegated plants can also bring about some surprises. While most cuttings of variegated plants produce identical offspring, leaf cuttings of yellow-banded snakeplants will yield all green offspring. Seeds from variegated plants can “breed true” with variegated offspring, but they are just as likely to produce all green or albino seedlings. The latter are doomed since albinos cannot photosynthesize to make food. All this adds an interesting dimension to plant propagation.
Variegated plants often have more exacting environmental needs than the all green members of the species. They often cannot tolerate very low light conditions (less chlorophyll for photosynthesis) but, on the other hand, may scorch under bright light (less protective pigmentation). Less vigor, smaller leaves, and increased sensitivity to temperature extremes are other features associated with variegation. These characteristics may explain why there are not that many variegated plants found in nature. Unless variegation has some adaptive feature, such as attracting pollinators or repelling herbivores, it is a liability that makes variegated plants less likely to successfully compete with all green plants. The “struggle for existence” in nature eliminates the less adapted.
or for a link - http://www.growweedeasy.com/weird-or-what which shows other mutations relating to MJ.
Variegation in plants can occur for a number of reasons, but most commonly it is a genetic “experiment” or “mistake” (depending on one’s evolutionary point of view) that occasionally appears in nature. A white variegation is the result of a plant’s inability to produce any pigment in that area. Orange, yellow, and light green leaf colors result from a lesser production of the green pigment chlorophyll, unmasking the orange carotenoid and yellow xanthophyll pigments and allowing them to appear. Shades of pink, red, and purple are the result of anthocyanin pigments. If produced in sufficient quantities, they can mask even the green chlorophyll. Interestingly enough, most temperate deciduous trees and shrubs produce these colors by these same mechanisms in the Fall, but variegation only applies to leaves with these colors all the time.
The pattern of variegation on a leaf depends on which cells carry the genetic information for the non-green color. Sometimes it is totally random and gives a speckled appearance, or can be quite uniform. For example, Dracaena marginata, a common indoor plant, has green leaves with red margins. Not all of the cell layers of the leaf extend to the edge, and in this case the layers with abundant red pigment do, but the layers with only green pigment do not.
Some variegations can be unstable, with variegated plants producing all green or all white (albino) shoots or leaves. Wandering Jew plants, Swedish Ivies, English Ivies, Screw Pines, Creeping Figs, Peperomias, and Geraniums are just some of the common species whose variegated members this writer has seen revert. This can occur in spite of efforts to remove all green or albino shoots as they appear. Some things are just not meant to be.
Propagating variegated plants can also bring about some surprises. While most cuttings of variegated plants produce identical offspring, leaf cuttings of yellow-banded snakeplants will yield all green offspring. Seeds from variegated plants can “breed true” with variegated offspring, but they are just as likely to produce all green or albino seedlings. The latter are doomed since albinos cannot photosynthesize to make food. All this adds an interesting dimension to plant propagation.
Variegated plants often have more exacting environmental needs than the all green members of the species. They often cannot tolerate very low light conditions (less chlorophyll for photosynthesis) but, on the other hand, may scorch under bright light (less protective pigmentation). Less vigor, smaller leaves, and increased sensitivity to temperature extremes are other features associated with variegation. These characteristics may explain why there are not that many variegated plants found in nature. Unless variegation has some adaptive feature, such as attracting pollinators or repelling herbivores, it is a liability that makes variegated plants less likely to successfully compete with all green plants. The “struggle for existence” in nature eliminates the less adapted.
or for a link - http://www.growweedeasy.com/weird-or-what which shows other mutations relating to MJ.
Last edited:
roseypeach
Well-Known Member
No problem, good luck to you!Thank you for the information. It is a word I have heard before but have never had any reason to research what it is. Will do some reading up and some investigation. More food for some thought. Very much appreciated
Honestly it's probably just a mutation and nothing to really be concerned with. The plant seems pretty healthy otherwise. You'll know more as it grows out.
slyone
Well-Known Member
Agreed, the more I am reading the less concerned I am becoming. I feel like I have achieved a small nugget of info. which will serve me well for future reference. The link I have shared shows other examples with other nuggets dependant upon the mutation. I like pictures as well as readingNo problem, good luck to you!
Honestly it's probably just a mutation and nothing to really be concerned with. The plant seems pretty healthy otherwise. You'll know more as it grows out.