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My post of August 7, 2014 concerned an attempt to micro-propagate single node cuttings from a Chemlali olive tree. It was my intention to use protocols with slightly different components and compare the results.
The Chemlali was part of an order of four varieties that I had recently received from a grower in Florida. All of the trees were covered in a film of debris that looked like it may have been fine dust that had gotten wet and dried on the plants. That said, I cleaned the trees as best I could before I took the cuttings, sterilized and placed them in vitro.
To my dismay, all of the explants developed contamination within a few days. Several attempts to rescue the cuttings failed, except for one.
Another trial was started today with a different variety, Empeltre, that came from the same grower in the same shipment. However, I am taking a different approach in processing the cuttings prior to placing them in vitro.
As you can see by the photo of the cutting above, this plant also has a film on the leaves that has resisted cleaning.
The leaves were first wiped using a Q-tip with water and a mild detergent, then processed in an ultrasonic cleaner. Using 500 ml of water, 25 ml of H2O2 and 2 drops of Dawn detergent to act as a surfactant, I processed the cutting for eight minutes at the unit's highest setting.
The liquid and cutting were then transferred to a Mason jar with a screen top and processed normally for one hour.
After rinsing in sterile water the cutting was cut into single node sections, which were then placed in vitro.
It should be interesting to see if the ultrasonic unit makes any difference in the outcome.
Last, but not least, the Bougainvillea seed shown in the time lapse video is making progress. Although the upper portion of the plantlet is growing very slowly, the tap root is an altogether different matter. It is the most unusual looking root system I have seen to date. The two dark circles resemble eyes, giving the root a most sinister appearance.
This week I received three more trees: Kalamata, Sevellano and Boutillian. Finally, at long last, my Olive Arborium is complete.
The trees are being fed on a regular schedule and the results have been fantastic. Trees that have recently arrived from nurseries, as well as all of the other trees, have added thick new growth.
I would like to have them in the best possible condition to cope with the long winter ahead, so hopefully next spring they will produce some fruit.
While visiting a plant nursery in Vermont late in July I came across a Bouganvillea plant. The plant was beautiful, but rather expensive, so I thought why not grow one from seed and place it in the greenhouse with the olives.
Finding Bouganvillea seeds turned out to be a challenge, but I finally managed to purchase some seeds for a plant with garnet colored flowers.
Some seeds were placed on moist paper towels to germinate and some were placed in vitro. I finally gave up on the seeds in paper towels after a few weeks. The seeds in vitro began swelling and produced radicles within about two weeks. Then, they seemed to grind to a halt.
Knowing that the seeds "need to see light" to germinate, I decided to give one vessel light 24/7 for several days to see what the effect would be.
The above video is a record of the experiment and this seed is far ahead of seeds started on the same day.
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