Germination of D. lusitanicum seeds in vitro

[Medina]

Six months ago I bought 10 seeds of Drosophyllum lusitanicum, these were sterilized with comercial bleach ( 30 mL clorox + 70 mL of water) for 15 min. and washed one time in sterile water for 20 min. Five seeds were transferred into flask with 1/3MS.

After six months the seeds did not germinate, then I take it out and I decide to cut 1/3 length of the seeds with a bisturi, then the seeds were tranferred into the same flasks. With this procedure four seeds germinated.

seed germinating




A plantula

[pinglover]

Next time you try growing Drosophyllum from seed, you might want to try sandpaper. Might be easier on you. Quite impressive that you were able to break the seed coat with a bisturi.

A bisturi is a type of scalpel for those reading who may not know what that word means. If I had tried what he did to scarify those seeds, I would have probably ended up stabbing myself with the tool while the seeds shot off in different directions. Those seeds are small and hard to get a grip on.

[Medina]

Yes, you are right , but because the seeds were in vitro I had no choice. I utilized forceps and bisturi, thus is easily break the seed coat without lost it. Thanks for your advice.

[pinglover]

I used tweezers before to try to get a grip on them but they still shot out all around the room. My girlfriend brought me home several different types of forceps from her work to try. She said they would work better than eyebrow tweezers. I tried them. They didn't work any better than the store bought tweezers. Even if I could get a decent grip on them, there would still be the issue of seeing well enough to score the seeds with a scalpel. I suspect my vision isn't what it used to be and don't particularly want to hurt myself. I so hate the sight of blood particularly when it's my own.

If sandpaper doesn't work on a seed coat, sulfuric acid and GA3 will. I prefer sulfuric acid.

[Medina]

In this picture are the forceps and scalpel that I used


And here is other seed germinating.

[pinglover]

You did much better than I would have done with the tools. I'm still very impressed you were able to slice seeds that size by any length holding them steady with one hand while cutting with the other.

You've done a fine job Medina.

[SundeWCitY]

beautiful plants and awesome job! I had gotten one seed out of 10 and it grew like crazy and divided into perhaps 30-40 plantsbut the agar and nutrients ran out and it died, i still havent learned to divide them yet, thats my next task, too bad i lost the plants i got to grow! but practice makes perfect i suppose!!

[rocktroll]

Would Hackle pliers for flytying work? They're small adjustable and have a good grip. I am only offering a suggestion and appologize for ignorance.

[carniplants]

Well done!!