Carolina Biological Supply st5ill offered the items noted as of three years ago. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kenneth Hixson" <khixson@nu-world.com> To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 6:09 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] OT---Embryo Rescue Technique > Hi, Anita: > > the plant breeding side >> of it. >> Where do you go to learn the lab techniques used in such cutting edge >> stuff >> as embryo rescue? >> How much lab equipment does one person need to do this sort of stuff any >> way? > > First, if all you want to do is learn plant breeding, you don't need to > use tissue culture/embryo rescue. Mankind has been breeding plants for > thousands of years without it. It wasn't until about 1900 that Mendel's > laws became generally known and people started using scientific > principles--before that, open pollinated seedlings were raised, and > crops and plants improved without even knowledge of genetics. And yet, > crops were improved, roses, carnations, primroses etc were produced that > were unlike those that preceded them. Embryo rescue/tissue culture has > become common in the last forty years or so, but even now, a great deal > is done with simple crossing and selection of seedlings. A knowledge of > genetics and statistics are probably more helpful than how to use embryo > rescue. > > If you do wish to make "wide" crosses, embryo rescue is about as hard as > making jelly. I've done it (yeah, both--embryo rescue-and made jelly). > If you cultured bacteria or fungi on petri dishes, you've already used > many of the techniques necessary--and you probably already know how to > do that. An internet search on embryo rescue, or tissue culture, should > turn up leads. There are at least a couple groups that help beginners, > and they'll probably turn up in a web search. Judith Freeman > (TheLilyGarden) used to teach embryo rescue to groups at lily > conventions, sometimes fifty people at a time--no scientists, just > gardeners, and provided a handout. If I still have the one I was given, > it may be possible to provide a copy. If you wish to email me, I'll > provide some URLs also. A couple to start: > > Try U. of Texas-- http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/tisscult/… > > Equipment and supplies-- >> http://www.hometissueculture.org/ > There is also a link to a listserv, which I haven't visited. > > At one time Carolina Biological Supply offered supplies, including Agar > and Murashiga and Skoog mixes (mineral/hormone additives), but I don't > know if they still do so. I used an agar mix, but newer things are on > the market, and are probably easier to use. > > In a pinch, you can use unflavored Gelatin--which is mostly agar anyway. > Jelly jars work as well as test tubes, if larger, a little harder to > cap and sterilize, but that's what you are doing when you process jelly- > sterilizing the mixture in the jelly jars (before you put the embryos > in the jars please). You probably should add some sugar to the agar as > an immediate energy source for the embryos. Adding a mineral salt > mixture (fertilizer/Murashiga and Skoog mixture) is needed if the plants > are to remain in the container for a long period of time--a few months. > As a transfer hood, I used a ten-gallon aquarium on its side with a > cling-wrap plastic closure, but I've seen cardboard boxes, with the > opening closed with clear plastic. To sterilize the interior of the > "transfer hood", I used rubbing alcohol, but 10% chlorine solution > works, it's just harder on skin, instruments, etc. I used a spray > bottle after liberating the window cleaner solution from it. A laundry > "spritzer" bottle works. > > You do need patience, it helps if you have a place where the temperature > doesn't change much (because air pulling in and out of the containers > when the temperature warms and cools will introduce fungi/bacteria). > One lady I know does very well in the second (upstairs) bathroom. > Flourescent light setups help, and a knowledge of how to transfer the > plantlets from the culture containers to the potting mix--which may be > the hardest thing of all. > > In other words, it isn't hard, "proper" equipment and supplies are nice, > but you can make do, and you don't need to know everything to be > successful, anymore than you need to be an auto mechanic to be able to > drive a car. It does take practice. And no, my first batch of jelly > was not a success either. > > Ken > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/