atash
Junior Member
Learning from my mistakes since 1964
Posts: 96
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Post by atash on Oct 22, 2009 15:19:10 GMT -8
Let's say that I had a tuberous crop like a potato, that has been vegetatively reproduced so many times that it is now full of virii (viruses...). Let's say the problem has gotten so bad, that the plant is now sterile (not to mention has lost vigor).
How would I go about de-virusing it? Is that done with meristemming? Who would I talk to, and how much would it cost?
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canadamike
Full Member
GARDENER FOR THE MOUTH
Posts: 186
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Post by canadamike on Oct 22, 2009 18:29:25 GMT -8
Most people have success with meristem cleaning, I met many people in Europe that use the technique while travelling with Tom. Roughly, 2 generations of taking the tips of the fast growing meristems ( when they explode in growth and grow very fast, so fast that the viruses can't follow the trail at the same speed), is doing the job. It could be 3 years too, nobody knows, but it usually works.
Another way I learned from Tom is to put the tubers in a fridge BARELY above 32 farenheight, 32.5F would be ideal, and keep them for 2 years. In Europe, they grow it low, close to sea level, then very high up in the mountains.
But, since I grow most of my taters from true seed, I hardly understand that fixation that we have on preserving clones. I can tell you from experience that you will always find very desirable, and much more productive, types for whatever you need if you grow from true seeds.
The natives in the Andes have no clue about cloning, but they havve been selecting from wild stock all their life. The new ''GIVE IT AN OLD NAME HERE'' IS A DIFFERENT CLONE, BUT IT LOOKS AND FEEL THE SAME, IT BEHAVES IN THE SAME FASHION, SO THEY GIVE IT THE SAME NAME. Meanwhile, they have, compared to us, eaten very different potatoes, but as long as they behaved the same...
Do you eat names or phenotypes?
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canadamike
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Post by canadamike on Oct 22, 2009 18:32:14 GMT -8
Oh! And if it was a sacred clone, something unbelievably good or of significal importance, we have underground connections to official labs to deviralise it ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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orflo
New Member
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Post by orflo on Oct 22, 2009 20:01:49 GMT -8
Underground connections for tubers...  Theoretically it can be done in one year, with some good growth chamber facilities... |
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canadamike
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Post by canadamike on Oct 22, 2009 21:09:29 GMT -8
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atash
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Learning from my mistakes since 1964
Posts: 96
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Post by atash on Oct 23, 2009 0:00:44 GMT -8
>>I can tell you from experience that you will always find very desirable, and much more productive, types for whatever you need if you grow from true seeds.
No can do. It has gone sterile. If it were not sterile, I'd just grow it from seed. Getting rid of virii is the first step in trying to make it fertile again. Then there is the question of polyploidy, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it...
>>if it was a sacred clone, something unbelievably good or of significal importance
No idea, and I suppose that's relative. It's quite rare.
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canadamike
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Post by canadamike on Oct 23, 2009 2:05:10 GMT -8
help is around...
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Post by Tom Wagner on Oct 23, 2009 9:05:01 GMT -8
I wish I could chime in but I am keeping Patrick waiting.
More on several venues of ridding virus later
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atash
Junior Member
Learning from my mistakes since 1964
Posts: 96
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Post by atash on Nov 9, 2009 16:44:40 GMT -8
OK, the tubers should be arriving soon.
I know that some of you know Orflo in Belgium. Can someone ask him to get in touch with me? I have some questions for him, but I haven't been able to reach him; probably don't have a current email.
Haven't seen them yet, but the fellow sending them says "rainbow-like colors. Beautiful little gems". I can't wait to see the eyes light up of a certain someone I know who just loves colorful crops.
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canadamike
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Post by canadamike on Nov 9, 2009 20:20:29 GMT -8
Orflo's name is Frank Van Kiersbilck. Get in touch with him at homegrown goodness, he is there everyday.
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atash
Junior Member
Learning from my mistakes since 1964
Posts: 96
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Post by atash on Nov 10, 2009 12:08:36 GMT -8
Thanks, Bud, will do.
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