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MUTATIONS OR MODIFIERS IN
PLATINUM-COLOR PIGEONS
Sometimes, seemingly out of
nowhere, new color variations appear in an established color
variety. A prime example of this is the significant lightening of
the plumage in the Platinum color variety of Pomeranian Eye-Crested
Highflyers. This is undesirable because it also jeopardizes the
initially consistently inherited gender distinction, with lighter
males and darker females in the Platinum color variety (Fig. 1).
Platinum has even been confused with Spread Ash at exhibitions. This
is not a good omen for the preservation of the color variety (Fig.
2).
The appearance of platinum
itself was quite remarkable. Platinum-colored birds were bred by the
author at the same time as black, blue, and ash red birds from white
Pomeranian Eye-Crested Highflyers and from a blue-bar Danziger
Highflyer hen and a blue-bar Danish Tumbler cock in the late 1960s
(Fig. 460 in Pigeon Genetics 2012, p. 477). The color factors of the
new color varieties, the dominant red of the ash red, the spread of
the black and Spread ash-colored birds, and also platinum, are not
mutations during the breeding phase. The genetic factors were
present in the white birds, masked by the dominant white.
Our own early tests refuted
initial suspicions that Platinum might be Recessive Opal or Milky
(Sell 2012, pp. 169ff., Sell 2015, pp. 312ff.). Andreas Leiß also
tested with 'Rusty' with negative results.
Where did the further
lightening occur in recent decades (e.g., Figs. 7, 8)? A mutation in
Platinum? Just as Faded, the genetic factor of distinctively colored
Texans, is said to have mutated from Almonds with the Stipper
factor? Or is it the influence of modifying factors?
These could have entered the
stock through crossbreeding with other breeds, in this case
indirectly. Indigo racing pigeons were crossed into blue and black
pigeons (which in the meantime gave rise to Andalusians, Fig. 9),
and somewhat later Danish brown stipper pigeons (which gave rise to
multi-colored and sprinkled or synonymous stipper pigeons, Fig. 10).
The main purpose was the genetic analysis of the then little-known
indigo factor and the rare Danish Brown Stipper. The latter by the
way a misleading name since they are genetically not brown. However,
descendants from the projects were incorporated into the breed to
avoid overly close kinship breeding, and indirectly via black and
blue some genes infiltered platinum. It is possible that transferred
genetic factors did not interfere with black, blue, and ash red
coloration, but did interfere with platinum. Interactions between
non-allelic genes have been discovered several times recently and
therefore cannot be ruled out.
It is academically interesting
to know whether the initially consistently inherited phenotype of
platinum is destroyed by the acquisition/loss of modifiers or by
mutation. The varying appearances of the lightening and the problems
maintaining the phenotype when transferred to other breeds suggest
uncontrolled modifiers. This is irrelevant for practical breeding.
If one wants to preserve the phenotype, which is on the verge of
disappearance, one will have to use traditional strategies for
eliminating undesirable traits in both cases.
Literature:
Sell, A., Critical Issues in Pigeon Breeding
Part II, Achim 2020, pp. 50ff., out of print.
Sell, A., Genetik der Taubenfärbungen, Achim
2015. 364 pages, 570 photos, out of print.
Sell, A., Pigeon Genetics. Applied Genetics in
the Domestic Pigeon, Achim 2012. 528 pages, more
than 900 photos and numerous tables, currently still limited
available at foyspetsupplies in the USA and from the author
https://www.taubensell.de
Figures:
Fig. 1: Different coloration of
the sexes and on the right young cocks in and after largely
completed moulting (Quelle: Sell 2015)
Fig. 2: Spread Ash (top) and
platinum (bottom) in comparison. They were even confused at shows.
Not a good omen for the preservation of the colorings. Source:
Critical Issues in Pigeon Breeding, Part II, Achim 2020.
Fig. 3: Black cock and platinum
hen with platinum-colored young. The young cock on the left shows
translucent bands, indicating the bar pattern, which is not complete
obscured by Spread. The hen on the right shows checkered pattern
beneath Spread
Fig. 4: Wing and tail study of
the platinum-colored young cock from Fig. 3
Fig. 5: Wing and tail study of
the platinum-colored young hen from Fig. 3
Fig. 6: Platinum cock
and black hen with black youngsters
Fig. 7: Black
white-flight cock and self black hen with platinum yougsters with
strong color variations. Grandparents solid
black, one great-grandfather platinum.
Fig. 8: Wing studies of
the juveniles from Fig. 7. The difference between the sexes is
offset by strong lightening of the wing shield in both juveniles. It
is even brighter in the male (left) than in the female.
Fig. 9:
Indigo, genetic factor introduced into the breed.
Source: Sell, Axel, Pigeon Genetics 2012.
Fig. 10:
Genetic factor Stipper introduced into the breed.
Source: Sell, Axel, Pigeon Genetics 2012.
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