Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 00:07:23 GMT From: Peter Cole <carnivor@flytrap.demon.co.uk> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1215$foo@default> Subject: x Aldronaea vescipula
Important news! After many years of trying, I have finally succeeded in
attempts to hybridise Dionaea muscipula and Aldrovanda vesiculosa. This
was performed by a process of in vitro somatic hybridization, as the plants
are not naturally interfertile. A suspension of protoplasts of each species
was created by treating cultured cells with enzymes to remove the cell walls,
and these were induced to fuse by application of a low electrical current
before the cell walls regenerated. The resulting fused cells were cultured
in an ungelled liquid medium composed of 1/2 strength Murashige & Skoog salts
with 100mg/l Casein hydrazide, 100mg/l inositol and 30000mg/l sucrose, pH
buffered to 5.9 (vide Beebe 1980. Bot. Gaz.141(4):396-400.) Cells which
exhibited chromosomal fusing were grown on into plants.
Early attempts produced terrestrial plants with miniscule (3-4mm,) traps
which were not quite what I was looking for, but finally I have developed an
aquatic plant with 50-60mm traps by using Dionaea specimens bred for size. This
plant is capable of catching tadpoles, water beetles and small fish (they seem
to like guppies!) and produces whorls of traps from a stem up to 600mm long and
10-12mm thick.
Several distinct forms developed from my experiments, so I have decided
to publish 5 cultivars as follow:
A.vescipula cv'maxima' - the largest form, with some traps up to
80mm on petioles up to 150mm, capable of
catching and retaining small goldfish.
A.vescipula cv'minutissima' - this is the terrestrial form with 3-4mm
traps and a low, moss-like habit.
A.vescipula cv'Red Giant' - a form produced by using a red clone
Dionaea which becomes a deep burgundy
colour in bright conditions, and produces
racemes of pink flowers in the Spring.
A.vescipula cv'Green Giant' - Like the Red Giant, but produced using
a green clone Dionaea which stays green
even in the brightest conditions.
A.vescipula cv'Shark's tooth' - A dentate form with pronounced saw-toothed
ridges in place of the usual bristles on the
margins of the traps.
More details to follow, but thought you'd like to knoq.
Happy growing,
Peter
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