Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 09:31:31 +0300 From: "Dr. Daniel M. Joel" <dmjoel@netvision.net.il> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2404$foo@default> Subject: Nepenthes seed
Some plants produce seeds without pollination.
This phenomenon is called apomixis.
A simple experiment may indicate whether some Nepenthes
species are apomictic: cut off the stigma of a young (female)
Nepenthes flower, and follow the development of a fruit (if any). Seed
development inside the ovarium (=fruit) will clearly
indicate apomixis. Another test for apomictic seed development
is counting the pollen tubes in the style of a mature fruit. When apomixis
exists,
there are less tubes than seeds, but this test cannot be done without
a microscope and facilities for pollen-tube staining.
Kind regards,
Danny
_______________________________________
Dr. Daniel M. Joel
Newe-Ya'ar Research Center
P.O. Box 1021
30095 Ramat-Yishay, Israel
Email: dmjoel@netvision.net.il
office: +972 4 9539 529
fax: +972 4 9836 936
http://www.agri.gov.il/People/DanielMJoel.html
_______________________________________
>
> Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 23:45:16 -0400
> From: "Michael Hunt" <stovehouse@earthlink.net>
> To: <cp@opus.labs.agilent.com>
> Subject: Re: Nepenthes seed
> Message-ID: <000801c000eb$1877e8c0$b650bfa8@oemcomputer>
>
> This is a very interesting topic. I have very few female Nepenthes. This
> spring a large N. alata did bloom. I left the spent inflorescence on the
> plant. I did not pollinate it, and had no other male Nepenthes blooming
at
> the time. The capsules grew and swelled. They did burst open with what
> looks to me like normal Nepenthes seed. But how can this be? Do
Nepenthes
> waste energy developing sterile seed?
> I can add that this plant is located out doors year round. But I
personally
> know of no other cp growers very close. I am very close to the Gulf of
> Mexico and surrounded by Tampa Bay. The seed went everywhere. I have sown
> it, but I really expect nothing to happen.
> Any comments?
>
> ~ Mike
> St. Petersburg Fl
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Greg Bourke" <sydneycarnivorous@hotmail.com>
> Sent: Monday, August 07, 2000 6:27 AM
> >
> > I've had a Nepenthes set viable seed where the nearest known Nep of the
> > opposite sex in flower at that time was at a friends house over 2km
away.
> I
> > don't live anywhere near the Nep's natural habitat either. I'm not sure
> who
> > the pollinator was but I suspect a small native bee which lives here in
> > Sydney. I don't know the extent of the bee's range, I guess it just got
> > lucky.
> ------------------------------
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