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Post by dToad on Dec 28, 2011 7:12:55 GMT -5
I'm considering VFT propagation via TC as growing from seed is dead slow.
Has anyone used the Phytotech media for VFTs? If so, what were your results? How does it compare to 1/3 MS?
Frank Tromble, recommends 1/3 MS in his videos, adding Kinnetin as the hormone. C206 uses 2iP. What works best for VFTs? Is a rooting hormone advantageous in a pre-transplant media?
What is the best method of storing mixed media? Is it as a liquid in the refrigerator, or gelled in TC vessels at room temperatures. How long does it remain viable in both storage situations?
PPM seems to be insurance for success, and therefore highly recommended for TC. Phytotech does not carry it, Caisson and HTCG do.
I will be contacting both Phytotech and the Home Tissue Culture Group (HTCG) to find out shipping methods and costs. Couriers tend to charge exorbitant rates for customs clearance, often more than small packages are worth.
I have, or can procure locally everything necessary for TC, but the caps for baby food jars, and media supplies.
Answers to my questions will determine if I move forward, and who my suppliers will be.
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Post by lloyd on Dec 28, 2011 20:37:31 GMT -5
Are you thinking of growing VFT's from seed in sterile medium or from explants in TC?
I've grown VFT seed in sterile medium 1/2-1/3 MS with MS Vitamines, casein, sucrose and agar. They grow like crazy. I use Phytotech ingredients. I have used pre-mixed medium for orchids and they are a lot easier than mixing your own so I will go with the Phytotech premixed MS based medium for CP's the next time I grow CP's in sterile medium.
You really have to use PPM if you don't have a LFH. I think PPM may be somewhat toxic to CP's. You can buy a 30ml starter pack right from PPM for a reasonable price.
Be very careful using hormones in TC medium for CP explants. I think that hormones may lead to severe oxidation (discolouration of the agar and explant death). I would go with the premixed Phytotech CP media preparations. If you add hormones try adding them at 1/10 the concentration you see recommended elsewhere. Or do multiple concentrations in different bottles.
You may also consider anti-oxidants like activated charcoal.
Phytotech is great for a lot of stuff like the media-very cheap. Some things like some hormones are cheaper ordered elsewhere. Their caps are good too. Bulky stuff like petri dishes is expensive to ship.
If you go with Phytotech, email them with your order and make sure you go USPS and not UPS. Buy heat perishable items in the winter as USPS will take a few days to get to Canada. Buy multiple small packs of medium as they are cheap and the big bottles will absorb water over time and go bad.
If any item seems expensive (say more than $15), you may be able to get better prices outside Phytotech. PM me if you want, I've collected a number of vendors.
BTW, if you go the seed route, remove the VFT seed coat (gently) before PPM and plating. Otherwise, mould inside the seed coat will come out after germination and infect the medium.
I store prepared medium in the baby food jars after sterilization in ziplock bags in the dark in low room temperatures. Seems to keep for months.
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Post by dToad on Dec 29, 2011 6:31:30 GMT -5
Thanks Lloyd...
I'll start with explants if I decide to go ahead with this.
Some avenues I'd like to explore are:
Media: MS vs Phytotech formulae.
Explant Sterilization: 'standard' described in this forum, and bleach followed by 5% PPM.
Explant Source: in-vitro vs ex-vitro growth and multiplication
In-vitro explants: How many 'generations' can be obtained.
I'll only have a few explants, so it wouldn't be done all at once.
It looks like I'll need to split my order and pay double the shipping cost. Phytotech is out of the lids, and HTCG appears not to carry Phytotech products. Both are closed until next week.
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Post by lloyd on Dec 29, 2011 13:46:38 GMT -5
If you do the PPM pre-treatment and use PPM medium you shouldn't have to do bleach too. Too bad Phytotech is out of the lids, are they getting more? I would do some seeds at the same time so you will have something to watch while the explants are doing whatever they do-they are much harder.
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Post by dToad on Dec 29, 2011 17:28:02 GMT -5
I planted all of my seeds, so I'll need to try explants from some of my mature plants. The seeds are growing dead slow. The mature plants are growing like weeds.
I'll need the experience with explants to clone the best plants I have. I'm thinking of starting about 200 VFTs and 100 sundews as seed purchased from a different supplier each year, to get some genetic diversity. I'll keep 10-20 of the best of each year for a possible future breeding program. The possible future breeding program was my reason for asking about a naming/tracking system earlier. I have experience with animal breeding programs. Plants shouldn't differ too much.
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