When the cross-pollination of two orchids occurs, and the genes of the pollinating parent are mixed with those of the pod plant, a new set of genes is created. The result is unique individuals that have not previously occurred and are ttffilidyto occur changes will take place each time crossfertilization occurs, thus making each seedling, or clone, from one capsule a "one off' with its own set of genes.
Most species clones are diploid. indicated by the scientific symbol 2N. Diploids have an even number of chromosomes and ensure fertility throughout the species.
Very occasionally, a plant will occur naturally with twice the number of chromosomes. This is a tetraploid, or 4N. Tetraploids are more likely to occur in hybridizing, and when crossed with a diploid the result is a triploid, or 3N. It is also possible to create 5N and 6N hybrids, and so on.
In the wild, the pollination of orchids is mostly carried out by insects and occasionally hummingbird produce large quantities of blooms, all opening at the same time, to ensure successful cross-pollination within the species. Each seed capsule contains hundreds of thousands of minute seeds. It requires only a few of these to germinate for the species to be perpetuated and the cycle of life to continue. The best results for vigorous seedling growth are obtained from the cross-pollination of two separate clones, although many orchids are self-fertile, whereby the same pollen can be used on the one flower.
Without the tetraploids the great advances made in hybridizing would not have been achieved.
In the commercial world, mericloning, a a scientific method of mass-producing one clone to produce identical plants, is now used more than seed raising. This breakthrough was developed by Professor Georges Morel at the llniversity of Paris, who became the first person to produce orchids by meristemming, or cloning, in the early 1960s. He adapted a method devised 15 years earlier in California to rid plants of virus disease, and discovered a new market in orchids.
While, in the past, divisions of the best plants were sometimes available at high prices, now the very best orchids were within the reach of everyone at affordable prices. Meristemmed plants are produced by removing a small cluster of cells found at the centre, or meristem tip, of a new growth. This is achieved with the aid of a microscope.
Orchids with uneven numbers of Chromosomes will not breed. These can often be converted by treating at a very eirly stage with Colchicine, an extract iom the crocus. This will react by dunging the chromosome count in both seed- and tissue-cultured plants. This technique requires some laborawry experience in handling such very szriall amounts of plant material.
Most species clones are diploid. indicated by the scientific symbol 2N. Diploids have an even number of chromosomes and ensure fertility throughout the species.
Very occasionally, a plant will occur naturally with twice the number of chromosomes. This is a tetraploid, or 4N. Tetraploids are more likely to occur in hybridizing, and when crossed with a diploid the result is a triploid, or 3N. It is also possible to create 5N and 6N hybrids, and so on.
In the wild, the pollination of orchids is mostly carried out by insects and occasionally hummingbird produce large quantities of blooms, all opening at the same time, to ensure successful cross-pollination within the species. Each seed capsule contains hundreds of thousands of minute seeds. It requires only a few of these to germinate for the species to be perpetuated and the cycle of life to continue. The best results for vigorous seedling growth are obtained from the cross-pollination of two separate clones, although many orchids are self-fertile, whereby the same pollen can be used on the one flower.
Without the tetraploids the great advances made in hybridizing would not have been achieved.
In the commercial world, mericloning, a a scientific method of mass-producing one clone to produce identical plants, is now used more than seed raising. This breakthrough was developed by Professor Georges Morel at the llniversity of Paris, who became the first person to produce orchids by meristemming, or cloning, in the early 1960s. He adapted a method devised 15 years earlier in California to rid plants of virus disease, and discovered a new market in orchids.
While, in the past, divisions of the best plants were sometimes available at high prices, now the very best orchids were within the reach of everyone at affordable prices. Meristemmed plants are produced by removing a small cluster of cells found at the centre, or meristem tip, of a new growth. This is achieved with the aid of a microscope.
Orchids with uneven numbers of Chromosomes will not breed. These can often be converted by treating at a very eirly stage with Colchicine, an extract iom the crocus. This will react by dunging the chromosome count in both seed- and tissue-cultured plants. This technique requires some laborawry experience in handling such very szriall amounts of plant material.
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