GamebirdsJ

FACTS AND MYTHSREGARDING THE VIOLETMUTATION IN LOVEBIRDS

Article and photos by Norris Dryden

To experience violet visually one has thus to combine a blue geneto a single dark factor and then add one or two violet genes"

Quite a few myths exist when itcomes to the breeding of theviolet mutation in Lovebirds.

Some of these myths include that abird can be a "split" to violet and thata single bird can possess up to threeviolet genes in its genetic structure. Itis generally accepted (until such timeas the contrary is proved) that only onetype of violet gene exists in the world.The American, Danish and Germanviolet mutations are all one and thesame violet gene. Violet inherits ina "co-dominant" fashion which hasthe implication that it is geneticallyimpossible to produce any "split" birds.What will be produced are birds withsingle factor violet genes as well asbirds with doublefactor genes. The latterbeing the more intense violet colour ofthe two. When combining a green violetbird with a par-blue (turquoise or aqua)bird the different genes will inherit in thefollowing manner: green - dominantly,violet - co-dominantly, turquoise andaqua - autosomal recessively.

HISTORYIt is documented that during 1980 in TheNetherlands as well as in Denmark theviolet gene developed naturally in thePeach Face (Roseicollis) lovebird.In Denmark the advantage wasthat it appeared in the par-blueseries of birds, thus being

visible to the human eye. The Danishquickly claimed this colour, branded itand at the same time commercializedit. From there the name Danish violetoriginated. Unfortunately for breedersin The Netherlands, the violet genefirst originated in green series birds.It was found that the more exotic thename the bigger the commercial value.This same tendency is today still foundin South Africa when a new colourmutation is imported for thefirst time and then sold atan above-market price.It is unfortunatelytrue that the biggerthe demand,the higherthe askingprice.

violet gene developed naturally inAustralia in the Personatus (Mask)species. From there it was trans-mutated to the Fischer, Nigrigenis (BlackCheek) as well as the Lilianae (Nyassa)species. The primary goal with trans-mutation is to transfer only the colourgene from one species to another. Thisis a process that needs to be carried

out 100% correctly or elseyou will end up

t r a n s f e r r i n gmore thanjust thec o l o u rg e n e .Incorrectlyapplied itwill havethe effect

that babieswill display

characteristicsof both species.The most commonly

found example ofjj this phenomena is inM the blue series (blue,

M D blue (cobalt), DD blueJF (mauve) and violet related

combinations) Fischerlovebirds, where quite a high

percentage of offspring displaygrey markings in their faces andchest. The faces and chest of ablue line Fischer should be 100%

pure white and should not display anygrey markings at all. The grey markingsare a clear indication of trans-mutationhaving been applied incorrectly inprevious generations. These sub-standard birds should preferably notbe included in a breeding programas these poor qualities will simply bepassed on from one generation to thenext. This should be avoided at allcosts.

The colour violet is generated bymeans of a light effect, and as light hasno ownership/nationality no countryshould strictly be allowed to attachits name to it. The violet gene thatdeveloped naturally in more than onecountry simultaneously was thus oneand the same gene after all.

TECHNICAL INFORMATIONLight is part of an electromagneticwave that is visible to the human eyein the form of light or colour images.All different types of electromagneticwaves travel at the exact same speed,namely 300 000 kilometres per second.Different types of electromagneticwaves however have different wavelengths. Ultra violet light for instancehas a wave length of between 14 and380 nanometre (nm); UV-C shorterthan 280 nm; UV-B between 280 - 315nm and UV-A between 315 - 380 nm.It is impossible for the human eye toobserve light within these ranges. Thehuman eyG can however observe lightin the wave lengths between 380 - 780nm. These lengths are known as thespectrum, and within this spectrumhumans have allocated certain namesto certain colours. The mixing togetherof these colours proportionally arewhat we as humans define as "white"daylight.

TABLE OF COLOURSRed 627-780 nm, Orange 589-627nm, Yellow 566-589 nm, Green 495-566 nm, Blue 420-495 nm, Violet380-420 nm. These colours are notclearly defined from one another butrather have an effect of one flowinginto the other. When light is reflectedthrough objects of different densitiesthe human eye observes it as differentimages, An example of this is sunlightshining through a shower of raindrops,causing the human eye to observe arainbow.

Blue & Cobalt DF Violet Fischer

A black surface will absorb all incominglight whereas a white surface will reflectall incoming light. In contrast to this willa grey surface absorb ±50% light andreflect the other 50%. A surface that isviolet in colour will reflect light between380-480 nm and absorb the rest. A bluecolour surface will reflect light between420-495 nm and absorb the rest.

The chest feather of a green lovebirdconsists of a central axis, known asthe rachis, to which lateral branchesare attached known as barbs (rami).Attached to the barbs are branchesknown as barbules (radii). It is these

barbs, and to a lesser degree thebarbules, which determine the colourof a feather. When a cross cut ismade of one of these barbs and it ismicroscopically enlarged ± 800 timesthe following observations can bemade. The feather comprises three(3) oval type areas from the outside toinside as follows:

1. A "Skin" known as the cortex. Itconsists of colourless keratin.Within the cortex a yellow pigmentis found known as "psittacin".

2. A spongy area (spongy zone) ofminiature tubes that are also madeup out of colourless keratin.

Feather Structure

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s

Above: Blue SF Violet and Blue DF Violet FischerBelow: Blue SF Violet

3. The central area which is known as where only blue light is reflected. Thethe medulla. The medulla containsvacuoles (miniature cavities filledwith air) which are surrounded byblack melanin.

What happens when light shines on thefeathers of a green bird? Very simplyput, the following; "white" light (which isa combination of seven colours) shineson the cortex (which contains yellowpsittacin) of the barb and only a smallportion of this light is reflected. Thedifference in density between the lightand the cortex disseminates the lightinto 7 colours. These seven coloursnow penetrate the spongy zone from

six remaining colours penetrate furtherand are absorbed by the black melaninwithin the medulla. What we now haveis a partial reflection of both blue andyellow light and together they createthe colour green. Green birds thus donot possess any green pigmentation,as is commonly believed. All they haveis yellow (to red) psittacin and blackeumelanin. The colour green visuallyexperienced by the human eye is thusnothing more than an effect created bylight. "

When a mutation has been affectedin such a way that the yellow psittacin

has just about vanished, only bluelight can be reflected. In this way weobserve blue mutation birds. Thiswill only happen if no other changeshave occurred in the other two areas.If, for instance, changes should takeplace in the central area (medulla)with the effect that the black melaninincreases or decreases the density ofthe colourless keratin tubes, togetherwith a disappearance of the yellowpsittacin, then the light would bereflected differently and instead of bluelight being reflected, violet light wouldnow be reflected. The violet colour weexperience is thus created by a changein the psittacin, together with change inthe feather structure.

The violet factor became known tobudgie breeders as early as 1930. Theviolet factor has only become prevalentin the Peach Face lovebirds since 1980and from 1994 in the other white eyering species. The budgie breeders havehad many more years to experimentand gain experience with this colourmutation. Through experience, theyhad come to the conclusion that theviolet mutation is best expressedwhen combining a blue mutation witha single dark factor and then addingone or two violet factors. They wereunanimously of the opinion that theviolet factor should not be combinedwith a green factor. They based thisopinion on the fact that a violet factordarkens a green bird to nearly thesame degree as what a dark factorwould do. The problem arises that thehuman eye can't differentiate betweena green bird with a single dark factorand a green bird with a single violetfactor. The same applies to a darkblue (cobalt) bird and a blue bird witha violet factor. The two mutations lookidentical. In their opinion a violet geneshould be visually displayed and nothidden away in a green bird. But thatis their opinion. I am convinced thatmany lovebird breeders will certainlydisagree with them.

To experience violet visually one hasthus to combine a blue gene to asingle dark factor and then add oneor two violet genes. The term "visualviolet" is incorrectly used to describe aviolet related mutation. "Visual violet"is not a mutation but merely a mannerof speaking to indicate that the birddisplays violet visually. This term hasbeen the cause of much confusion inthe past and should rather be avoidedat all cost.

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Cobalt SF Violet Pied Cobalt DF Violet

iiil

VIOLET COMBINATIONSBlue + one violet factor = Blue SFViolet (this mutation looks identical toa D Blue (Cobalt) and does not showany visual signs of violet)Blue + two violet genes = Blue DFViolet (this mutation looks identical to aD Blue (Cobalt) SF Violet and displaysviolet visually)Blue + one dark factor + one violetfactor = D Blue (Cobalt) SF Violet (thismutation displays violet visually)Blue + one dark factor + two violetfactor = D Blue (Cobalt) DF Violet (thismutation displays violet visually and itis the most intense violet colour of allcombinations)

A visual violet can thus be any one ofthree possible birds. The use of the termvisual violet should thus be avoided atall costs and the describing a bird as

genetically correctly as possible shouldbe encouraged.

The newest mutation on everybodylips are the so called "true blue" or"pure blue" Roseicollis. These birdshad their origin when over manyyears breeders had selectively matedthe "bluest" of turquoise birds to oneanother. The result was a bird thatlooked "blue" to the naked eye. A birdcan only be classified to be blue if acomplete (100%) reduction of psittacinhas occurred. Within these birdscalled "true blue/pure blue" a smallpercentage of psittacin is unfortunatelystill present. It is because of thisfact that the BVA (Belgium LovebirdSociety), with its ± 2500 membersworldwide, has classified these birdsas "blue". The name blue is writtenin inverted commas because there is

still that small percentage of psittacinpresent. The category in which they aredisplayed at European shows is called"blue" and not "true blue" or "pure blue"as they are commonly known in SouthAfrica. The name blue is reserved forthe day that a breeder manages tobreed a pure blue Roseicollis - onewithout any psittacin.

DIE VIOLET FAKTORIN LOVEBIRDS (SPE5IE

7!CAPORNlS>~FE!TE EN MITESdeur Norris Dryden

Baie mites bestaan in die teel vandie violet kleur mutasie in Lovebirds.Van hierdie mites is dat n voel kan"split" vir violet en dat sommige voelstot drie violet faktore in sy genetiesesamestelling kan bevat. Dit word

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The primary goal with trans-mutation is to transfer only the colour gene from one species to another.This is a process that needs to be carried out 100% correctly or else you will end up transferring

more than just the colour gene, as can be seen in these two examples

I

algemeen aanvaar (todat die teendeelbewys word ) dat daar nie verskillendetipe violet gene in die wereld bestaannie. Die Amerikaanse, Deense enDuitse violet mutasies is almal eenen dieselfde violet geen. Violet vererf"ko-dominant" wat beteken dat geen"splits" geneties moontlik is nie. Daarsal dus enkel en dubbel faktorige voelsvoorkom, waarvan die dubbelfaktorigesdonkerder en meer intens van kleursal wees. Wanneer groen violette met"par-blue" [Turkoois en Aqua] mutasiesgekruis word sal hierdie nasate dusdominant vererf wat betref die groengeen, ko-dominant vererf wat die violetgeen aanbetref maar autosomaal

resessief wat die turkoois en aquageen aanbetref.

Geskiedenis : Gedurende 1980 hetdaar tergelyke tyd in Denemarke enNederland die eerste violet PeachFaces (Roseicollis) natuurlik verskyn.Omrede die violet faktor in Denemarkein die Parblue (partial blue - turquoise)lyn verskyn het en dus visueel sigbaarwas, het hulle gou ingespring om dienaam te eien en te kommersialiseer.Vandaar die name "Danish violet" en"American violet". In Nederland aan dieanderkant het die violet geen eerste ingroen verwante voels verskyn.. Hoemeer eksoties die naam, hoe grater die

kommersiele waarde. Hierdie tendensword vandag nog ervaar wanneer nnuut geteelde mutasie vir die eerstekeer na Suid Afrika ingevoer word endan teen buitensporige hoe pryse vandie hand gesit word. Hoe groter dieaanvraag hoe hoer die prys.

In die wit oogring spesies het die violetkleur spontaan ontstaan in Australiain die Personatus (Masker) spesie.Vandaar is dit verder geneem en deurmiddel van transmutasie gevestig in dieFischer, Nigrigenis (Black Cheeck) enLilianae (Nyassa) spesies. Die primerebeginsel met transmutasie is om diespesifieke kleur geen oor te dra vaneen spesie na n ander. Transmutasieis n poses wat 100% korrek toegepasmoet word andersins word meer as netdie kleur geen oorgedra. Transmutasieverkeerdelik toegepas veroorsaakdat voels geteel word wat fisieseeienskappe van beide spesies vertoon.Die mees algemeenste voorbeeldhiervan is n blou, donker blou (kobalt)of violet verwante Fischer mutasie watgrys merke in sy gesig en bors vertoon.Die gesig en bors van n blou verwanteFischer moet spierwit wees en absoluutgeen tekens van grys toon nie. Diegrys is n nagevolg van transmutasiewat in vorige geslagte verkeerdeliktoegepas was. Hierdie sub-standaardvoels moet eerder nie in n teelprogramgebruik word nie aangesien die swakeienskappe bloot van een generasiena n ander oorgedra word. Dit moeteerder ten alle koste vermy word.

Die kleur violet word veroorsaak deurn lig effek en aangesien lig geennasionaliteit/eienaar het nie, kan geenland streng gesproke sy naam koppelaan die violet kleur/geen nie. Die violetgeen wat tergelyke tyd natuurlik tevoorskyn gekom het in die verskillendelande was dus al die tyd een endieselfde geen.

TEGNIESE INUGTINCLig is deel van n elektromagnetiesegolf wat mense deur hulle sigervaar as lig of as kleur beelde. Alleverskillende elektromagnetiese golwebeweeg teen dieselfde spoed, naamlik300 000 kilometer per sekonde.Verskillende elektromagnetiese golwehet verskillende golf lengtes. Ultra-violet lig het byvoorbeeld n lengte vantussen 14 en 380 nano meter (nm):UV-C korter as 280 nm; UV-B tussen280 - 315 nm en UV-A tussen 315- 380 nm. Die menslike oog kan niehierdie golf lengtes waarneem nie. Die

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menslike oog kan slegs sig ervaar indie golflengte 380 tot 780 nm. Hierdiegolf lengte staan bekend as diespektrum en binne hierdie spektrumhet die mens sekere name aan sekerekleure gekoppel. Die vermening vanhierdie kleure in sekere hoeveelhedeneem ons waar as "wit" daglig.

TABEL VAN KLEURERooi 627 - 780 nm, Oranje 589 -627 nm, Geel 566 - 589 nm, Groen495 - 566 nm, Blou 420 - 495 nm,Violet 380 - 420 nm. Hierdie kleureword nie duidelik van mekaar geskeinie, maar vloei egalig van die eenbinne in die ander. Wanneer lig deurvoorwerpe van verskillende digthedereflekteer, word verskillende beeldedeur die menslike oog waargeneem. nVoorbeeld hiervan is sonlig wat deur nvlaag reendruppels skyn en dan as nreenboog waargeneem word.

'n Oppervlakte wat heeltemal swartis sal alle inkomende lig absorbeer.n Oppervlakte daarenteen wat witis sal weer alle lig reflekteer. n GrysOppervlakte op sy beurt sal weer ± 50%lig absorbeer en ± 50% reflekteer. Sosal n violet Oppervlakte lig tussen 380 en480 nm reflekteer en die res absorbeer.n Blou oppervlakte daarenteen sal weerlig tussen 420 en 495 nm reflekteer endie res absorbeer.

Die borsveer van n groen lovebirdbestaan uit n sentrale as bekend asdie "rachis" waaraan daar lateralevertakkings is bekend as "barbs" (rami).Aan hierdie vertakkings is daar weervertakkings bekend as die "barbules"(radii). Die "barbs" en in n minderemate die "barbules" bepaal die kleurvan n veer. Wanneer n dwars snit vann "barb" gemaak word en dit + 800maal mikroskopies vergroot word worddie volgende waarnemings ervaar.Die veer bestaan uit drie ovaalvormigeareas. Van buite na binne as volg:1. 'n "skil" bekend as die korteks. Dit

bestaan uit kleurlose keratien. Binnedie korteks word n geel pigmentgevind bekend as "psittacin"

2. Die sponserige (spongy zone)gedeelte wat bestaan uit miniatuurbuisies wat ook op hul beurtsaamgestel is uit kleurlosekeratien.

3. Die middelste area staan bekend asdie "medulla. Die "medulla" bevatvakuoles (miniatuur holtes gevulmet lug) wat omring is met swartrnelanien.

Wat gebeur wanneer lig op die vere vann groen voel skyn. Baie vereenvoudigen kortliks gestel die volgende. "Wit"daglig (wat n samevatting van 7 kleureis) skyn op die korteks (wat geel"psittacin bevat) van die "barb" enslegs n gedeelte van die geel lig wordgereflekteer. Die verskil in densiteitvan die lig en die korteks breek die ligop in die 7 verskillende kleure. Hierdie7 kleure dring die sponserige areabinne vanwaar blou lig gereflekteerword. Die ander 6 kleure beweegverder en word geabsorbeer deur dieswart "melanien" Ons het dus nou nweerkaatsing van blou en geel lig engesamentlik veroorsaak dit die kleurgroen. Groen voels bevat dus geengroen pigment nie. Al wat hulle bevatis geel (tot rooi) "psittacin" en swart"eumelanin" Die kleur groen wat diemenslike oog ervaar word dus deur nlig effek veroorsaak.

Wanneer n mutasie in so n mategeaffekteer is dat die geel "psittacin"bykans heeltemal verdwyn het dan kanslegs blou lig gereflekteer word. Ophierdie wyse word die blou mutasiesdeur die menslike oog ervaar. Dit isslegs van toepassing as daar geenverandering in die ander twee areasplaasgevind het nie. Wanneer daarwel n verandering in die sentrale area(medulla - sponserige area/ spongyzone) plaasvind, m.a.w. die swart"melanien" verminder of vermeerderdie digtheid van die kleurlose keratienbuisies , tesame met n verdwyningvan die geel "psittacin", word die ligverskillend gereflekteer en dan in plaasvan blou lig word violet lig weerkaats.Vandaar ons pragtige violet mutasie.Dit as gevolg van n verandering in die"psittacin" en die veertekstuur.

Die violet faktor was reeds so vroeg as1930 bekend aan budjie telers. In diePeach Face lovebird hetditsedert 1980voorgekom en in die ander wit oogringspesies sedert 1994. Die budjie telershet dus dekades meer ondervindingvan die violet mutasie as lovebirdtelers. Deur ervaring en ondervindinghet hulle tot die gevolgtrekking gekomdat die violet mutasie die mooistevertoon wanneer hulle n blou geenen een donker geen met een of tweeviolet gene kombineer. Budjie telers isdit eens dat die violet geen nie met diegroen geen gekombineer moet wordnie. Hulle baseer hierdie stelling opdie feit dat die violet geen groen voelsverdonker tot byna dieselfde mate aswat die donker geen dit doen. Dit is

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Above: Cobalt SF Violet PiedBelow: D Turquoise SF Violet

nie vir die menslike oog moontlik omte onderskei tussen n groen voel wat ndonker geen bevat en een wat n violetgeen bevat nie. n Donker groen en nviolet groen mutasie sal dus visueeleenders voorkom vir die menslike oog.Dieselfde beginsel is van toepassingop n donker blou (kobalt) en n blouviolet mutasie. Wanneer n violet geendus tot n donker groen voel toegevoegword verdonker dit die donker groentot n byna olyfgroen, maar nie 100%in dieselfde mate as wat die donkergeen dit sou doen nie. Hulle beskeieopinie is dat die violet kleur visueelervaar moet word en nie weggesteekmoet word nie. Hierdie opinie is een

wat beslis nie deur alle lovebird telersondersteun word nie.

Om violet visueel te ervaar moet onsdus n blou geen kombineer met ndonker geen en daarna een of tweeviolet gene toevoeg. Vandaar dieterme "Visual Violet" Visuele violet isnie n mutasie nie, maar terminologieom aan te dui dat die betrokke voelvisueel violet vertoon. Hierdie termbied geen aanduiding van watter tipeviolet daar gepraat word nie en moetliefs moontlik vermy word, aangesiendit slegs verwarring veroorsaak.

VIOLET KOMBINASIES

Blou + (plus) een violet geen = Blou EFViolet (hierdie mutasie lyk op n haar nadieselfde as n donker Blou (Kobalt) envertoon glad nie violet visueel nie)Blou + (plus) twee violet gene - BlouDF Violet (hierdie mutasie lyk weeridenties soos ndonker Blou (Kobalt) EF Violet envertoon violet visueel.Blou + (plus) een donker geen + (plus)een violet geen = Donker Blou (Kobalt)EF Violet. Hierdie mutasie vertoonviolet visueel.Blou + (plus) een donker geen +(plus) twee violet gene = Donker Blou(Kobalt) DF Violet. Hierdie mutasievertoon violet visueel en is die meesintense violet mutasie.Wanneer ons dus blou met twee violetgene kombineer kry ons ook n visueleviolet mutasie bekend as Blou DFViolet, n Visuele violet kan dus enigevan die drie bogenoemde genetiessaamgestelde mutasies wees. Omdus die terme "visual violet" te gebruikskep ons net n Babelse verwarring enniks meer nie. Daar moet dus te alletye gepoog word om n voel so genetiesmoontlik korrek te beskryf. Sodoendesal erge verwarring uit die weg geruimword.

Die nuutste mutasie op almal selippe is die "true blue" ofte wel "pureblue" Roseicollis. Die visuele "blou"Roseicollis het onstaan deurdat telersoor die verloop van jare die visueel"blouste" turkooise voels geneem heten selektief met mekaar gekruis hettotdat hulle n visuele "blou" mutasiegevestig het. n Voel kan slegs asblou beskou word as daar n algehele(100%) verwydering van "psittacin"plaasvind. By hierdie "blou" Roseicollismutasies is daar nog steeds n geringepersentasies "psittacin" aanwesig. Omhierdie rede het die BVA (BelgieseLovebird Vereniging - n klub met + 2500lede wereld wyd ) dit goed gedink omvir skoudoeleindes n nuwe kategorienaamlik "blou" bekend te stel waarhierdie visuele "blou" voels vertoon kanword. Die kategorie staan bekend as"blou" en nie "true blue" of "pure blue"soos die gebruik in Suid Afrika nie.Die rede waarom aanhalingstekensgebruik word is omrede hierdie voelsnog nie werklik suiwer blou is nie Diekleur blou word dus gereserveer vir diedag waarop iemand dit regkry om nsuiwer blou Roseicollis te tee'l.

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