I am considering giving a slide show for my local orchid soc on the multifloral paphs. Can anyone give me an idea of where the breeding is going? Is there a holy grail for the breeders involved? What new directions are being explored? Apart from flower form is there anything else line breeding is trying to achieve?

There have been alot of new roth species entering the market. I think breeders are striving to equal and surpass the qualities of staple roths like Rex x MM.

Also there have ben lots of hybrids made with sanderianum that have yet to bloom...very exciting to see how these new crosses will turn out!

Didn't someone want to make a all white multi that had long petals??

Didn't someone want to make a all white multi that had long petals??

OMG!!!!! What I would do for a paph like that!!!!! My mind is running with all sorts of intrige now...hahaha!!!!

There has been some crosses using Paph. Transdoll, Lebaue, Vanguard and Transdoll on multi species like back to roth,stonii and phil. Also there are crosses using Paph. Beranice, Julius and Jerry Spence for further breeding.
Hope this helps.

Ramon:D

albino multiflorals are one direction

Ooops, Nick already said it...

brachys x multiflorals esp with stonei influence

Also, breeding for increased vigor. Especially in sanderianum and roth. Now with the kolopakingii album, it adds a bit more potential for album multis.

I don't really see any long term goals for the multifloral paphs. Most of the crosses in the past have been primary or secondary crosses created more from curiosity than anything else. The more newly discovered species such as Paph kolopakingii bring in more flowers on a stem (although smaller), and the rediscovery of Paph sanderianum yields long petals (but narrow dorsals). Basically after these additions, the palette is rothschildianum, philippinense, praestans, lowii, parishii and stonei. It's a pretty limited, although spectacular, group of genetic matter.
The more complex crosses in this group for the most part don't show the character of the primary crosses, although there are some exceptions.

The albino crosses show some promise, and perhaps selective breeding will bring some albinistic Paph St. Swithin's or Mt.Toro's. This would have to use an albino parent in the original cross and then sibling crosses to hopefully create a percentage of albinos.

Crossing out of the group always gives interesting flowers, but most of them are not bred further with the exception of brachypetalum additions. Once again, the focus is on primary hybrids.

Thanks for the info, guys. I am doing a bit of reading about the crosses you have brought up so I might not be able to post follow up questions as quickly as I might like.

I have to admit to not liking the cochlopetalums and think that they lend little to a good multi cross apart from a good labellum colour. @rdlsreno, they secondary crosses of these primary hybrids are much nicer as the petals are improved by crossing back onto a multi.

A white multi would be wonderful to see, perhaps an ang-thong x ooii, or kolo alba cross. Even then there would need to be a few years of line breeding to clean up any striping or spotting that shows up. If only I was 20 years younger............ I remember seeing a pic of a white cross during a browse one day, but I think it was a sukhakulii cross, the petals were excellent but not as long as a good multi. I think it was the Makuli x Greyi cross at RK Gems. This would be a good parent for any crosses put onto alba multis.

I agree with Bill to a certain extent that many of the multis are so similar that alot of the primary crosses are almost line breeding when you look at the results. But at least these will result in improvements on form and vigour.

I'll do some more reading and come back with more questions......

there's an albino kolopakingii? Oh the possibilities!

I have exchanged a couple of emails with Nick88, and he mentioned that Russell has a powerpoint presentation that is the bees knees. Unfortunately he said he wasn't able to download it properly. Is there any chance I could access something like this? I would love to be able to show the members of my local society as well.