Re: Neps hHybrid traits

dave evans (T442119@RUTADMIN.RUTGERS.EDU)
Sat, 12 Oct 96 02:00 EDT

In the case of frost tolerance (OK, OK, this may not be the foremost
feature of highland _Nepenthes_, but...), this seems to be affected
to some degree by the lipid composition of the cytoplasmic membrane.
These lipids are for a large part synthesized in the chloroplasts (by
proteins encoded at least partially by the chloroplast genome). So
there is an (admittedly small) chance that "highland tolerance" may be
inherited from the mother-_Nepenthes_.

reply:
Hi List & Jan,

I was thinking more of the lower temperatures highlanders
get in their mountian homes. Not really of the danger from frost.
What are the reasons highland Neps don't do as well in warmer temps,
and visa versa for the lowlanders? I'm assuming some of their
proteins (enzymes) don't work at certain temperatures due to slight
modifications that don't change the use of a protein, just the
temp it works at. If this is so, then hybrids between high and low
land Neps should give rise to plants that are equally adapted to
both sorts of temperature ranges, since they'll get working copies
of both... Has anyone noticed if this is true or not?

Dave Evans