Pink peas- have you seen this

[Hector1]

https://twitter.com/hodmedods/status...030428679?s=21

[clumsy]

That is interesting pink peas. Now I want some of those seeds lol.

[Galina]

If you come up with a name and they choose it, they will send you some seeds. Couldn't see it on twitter, but competition also on facebook.

[triffid]

Very cool. More of a peachy tone than a true pink. Looks like they have the 'orc' gene, for orange cotyledons.

[Galina]

http://data.jic.ac.uk/pgene/Default.asp?ID=514
I think you are right. Looking at the photo on the genes database. Just type orc in the top left and then click on the magnifying glass symbol on the left. Could also be sal, salmoneous.

[Jang]

I'm fascinated by your knowledge of the gene for orange cotyledons.

Please could I ask, in order to satisfy my curiosity, whether you had prior knowledge of orange cotyledons and their gene and also, related, whether there are other current examples of orange cotyledons?

[triffid]

I first heard of the Orc gene thanks to Andrew Barney on Homegrown Goodness and the OSSI forum. I believe he is still actively trying to breed a high-carotene pea. There has been development of other Orc peas commercially. Here's a list of accessions provided to him by Ambrose of the JIC germplasm unit: https://alanbishop.proboards.com/post/115136/thread

[Jang]

Thanks very much for the explanation. The thread fizzles out a couple of years ago, which is a pity. But very interesting. Perhaps the attempts continue.

It would be interesting to know the origin in UK of these pink peas. I’ve emailed Hodmedods but not terribly hopeful of an answer.

[Silverleaf]

I have Auralia from JIC growing this year, which is orc. I'm planning make some crosses - it's a short plant so crossing to a tall pea would be my first thought (I don't really do dwarf peas). Seed to share as well, hopefully!

[Jang]

Interesting.
Is the pea itself pinkish as in the Hodmedods Flamingo pea which they’re due to release this autumn, I believe?

[Silverleaf]

I assume they’ve done some kind of breeding or selection or something.

[Jang]

Or maybe spotted a marketing opportunity?
Is Auralian sold by anyone, do you know? And have you tried its eating quality or is it first year of growing it?

[Silverleaf]

I don’t know anything about Auralia, to be honest. First year growing it, and google wasn’t that helpful!

[Silverleaf]

Apologies for the picture quality, they look a bit grey here but they aren’t. Definitely a pale orange rather than pinkish.

[Silverleaf]

Auralia

[Jang]

No picture showing?

[Silverleaf]

Really not a good representation of the colour at all, but never mind! I think the white testa covers up the orange colour quite a lot.