Twin scaling vs. Stagnospora

J.E. Shields jshields104@insightbb.com
Tue, 09 Dec 2003 12:27:01 PST
Fred and all,

Twin scaling is a method of propagating bulbs, whereby one slices 
vertically through the bulb from top to and through the basal plate, then 
cuts the slices horizontally between every other bulb scale.  Thus you end 
up with many slices of bulb tissue with two bits of bulb scale attached by 
a bit of basal plate.  Hence the term, "twin scale".

The red discoloration may be any of several things.  Stagnospora is a 
fungal infection characterized by a deep red discoloration of the infected 
parts, and controllable or possibly even curable.  It is not a virus.

As Alan Meerow mentioned, Hippeastrum have compounds in their tissues 
which, when exposed to light and oxygen in air, are oxidized to red 
pigments.  These are harmless.

Many plants, including Hippeastrum, may produce a red pigment when exposed 
to strong sunlight.  These are naturally occurring plant pigments called 
anthocyanins, and are a protective mechanism in the plant.

Regards,
Jim Shields

At 10:27 AM 12/9/2003 -0800, Fred Biasella wrote:
>..... I have several
>hippeastrums with this dicoloration as well. In the
>past I had destroyed the bulbs thinking it was an
>uncurable virus that would spread to my other
>amarylllids. I'll have to try treating tem in the
>future. ......

*************************************************
Jim Shields             USDA Zone 5             Shields Gardens, Ltd.
P.O. Box 92              WWW:    http://www.shieldsgardens.com/
Westfield, Indiana 46074, USA
Tel. ++1-317-867-3344     or      toll-free 1-866-449-3344 in USA
Member of INTERNATIONAL CLIVIA CO-OP


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