Re: Variegated Travelers palm and tissue culture

From: Scott Hyndman hyndman at aroid.org> on 2001.03.24 at 17:28:47(6072) Regarding the tissue culturing of Ravenala, I have read successful protocols for the micropropagation of Strelitzia, so I am sure that with slight modifications the same could be applied to Ravenala. Keep in mind that there is probably a time lag of about two to three years before producing viable plantlets after initiating cultures providing the culture initiation goes without any hitches. The question of getting stable variegated clones of the specimen in discussion is another problem. I once tissue cultured a beautifully variegated Alocasia macrorhizos only to get either all green or all albino plantlets. The same happened with the variegated banana cultivar Aei-Aei. In short, if the variegation is expressed as a stable chimera, and if the multiplication of the tissue culture arises from precocious lateral buds, then the chances of getting a clone of the mother plant is good. Without a good description or image of the specimen in question to understand the type of chimera, but with my experience with other variegated Zingaberales, my guess is that it is not possible to micropropagate this unique Ravenala. It is probably best to just find the plant a good home with a favorable outdoor climate under the care of an experienced horticulturist to let it grow, and maybe produce some good variegated suckers for distribution in the future. Regards, Scott +More --------------------- Scott Hyndman U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, ARS, USDA 2001 South Rock Road Fort Pierce, FL 34945 USA Office: 561-462-5889 Fax: 561-462-5986 Cell: 561-216-6534 E-mail: shyndman@ushrl.ars.usda.gov on 3/23/01 11:55 PM, James W. Waddick at jim-jim@swbell.net wrote: >> For those that suggested tissue culture, I would love to pursue that >> avenue, but I was under the impression that variegated plants are >> actually chimeras of albino and "normal" cells and either of these >> lines could be cultured, but not both. If I am wrong, PLEASE correct >> me and I'll take it to the University of Arizona to have tissue >> culture work done, and I'll send everyone a plant who requested one. >> >> Nyles Bauer > > Dear Nyles; > Hundreds of thousands of variegated Hostas - all chimeral - > are routinely tissue cultured. This doesn't mean your plant can be, > but being chimeral is not the problem. Can Ravenala be tissue > cultured? > best Jim W. > > Dr. James W. Waddick > 8871 NW Brostrom Rd. > Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711 > USA > Ph. 816-746-1949 > E-fax 419-781-8594 > > Zone 5 Record low -23F > Summer 100F + >

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