i can't answer your question specifically but i've also noticed this in lines of "leucistic" southern pines that have been line/inbred. i think it's a species or genus specific issue. oddly enough, i've been line breeding my jasper corns that were orginally collected back in the early 80's. i only keep a few (ever try selling normal corn babies?) and unfortunately have line/inbred them because i wanted to keep them locale specific. the scalation of the baby corns look absolutely normal but the babies are now less robust and come out smaller. i finally gave in and decided to outbreed them to some of abbott's older okeetee stock.