Inyan

Saw the talk on mutagens and thought I might offer this, "Ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) is a very dangerous mutagenic and carcinogenic substance that must only be used and disposed of in a laboratory familiar with the handling of powerful mutagens. Generally, seeds are allowed to soak overnight in water, and then exposed to a solution of 0.2% (w/v) EMS on a shaker for 24 hours. The seeds are then rinsed ten times, and allowed to germinate. Armed with a proven protocol, the daylily breeder should hire a professional facility to treat his seeds, and perhaps even seek their help in devising an optimal course of treatment. Successful mutagenesis is suggested by a lethality rate of 50%. Tetraploidy doubles up the chromosomes, which can be great, but EMS has the power of making point mutations, that is, it leaves the chromosomes super-structure and count largely intact, but will modify individual genes in horticulturally novel ways. It may create new shapes such as reliable polypetals, yet unseen colors and patterns, as well as totally unexpected results. You are unlikely to see anything but dominant mutations in the treated seeds. Since most mutations will be recessive, it will be necessary to self-pollinate the plants that that survived the EMS treatment. It is from their offspring that the majority of interesting new mutants will be found. As most mutations are deleterious, a very large number of treated seeds will have to be planted in order to find the gem in the army of EMS treated runts. " http://web-o-rama.net/daylilies/daylilytetraploidinduction.html Thanks for sharing! On the topic of colchicine and doubling the chromosomes... the main benefit I see there is the ability to double up on genes and of course the possibility to create new phenotypes based on the fact that new combinations of genes not possible before may be suddenly be possible. There are of course pro's and cons to that as recessives may be harder to get to express as well unless you are in fact dealing with breeding doubled recessives in the first place.

Lophophora jourdaniana var mammillaris Lophophora williamsii x Lophophora fricii day 17 Thailand

Always have to take time to stop and smell the roses. Enjoying something as simple as minor differences in phenotype in Lophophora hybrids for instance is what attracts me to the fricii type hybrids. Those occasional brightly colored flowers if one can get one is great. The same thing for Brugmansia or Datura hybrids... watching those flowers open up for the first time gives you the unique experience of being the first to see that hybrid bloom for the first time. Perhaps it is not spectacular by anyone else's standards, but for me it is exciting even when the flower is plain white. I'm doing a happy dance if I get something more. @Humbolt Your perspective is reflected in how I was taught to view plants, animals, etc. All are beings/spirit/energy/vibration on the web of life. That web of the mind that mirrors the outside world and those connections we make internally about the connections we have externally to the same. It is a mirror in some respects then that the mind can reflect the connections or energy to one extent or another. The more in tune you are to a particular plant or animal the more that animal or plant resonates with you. At a certain point, generally after having had a particularly powerful connecting vision with a particular medicine/pejuta/plant/animal that energy/spirit becomes a part of you and that is reflected in the idea that you now have that particular connection in a stronger way than many to a particular medicine. You have that animal/plant/medicine as a part of you and you can draw on its strength.

It can survive, but I wouldn't bet much money on it. You cut a lot of tissue off which helps the seedling dry out faster. Increasing humidity or simply placing parafilm stretched out over your grafted scion would have prevented the seedling from drying out. If you have a big seedling like you appear to have had, try cutting it down so the seedling forms a square or a rectangle with the small size down/horizontal and the long sides up/vertical if grafting with areoles pointing upwards. I sometimes graft seedlings on their side to good effect as well, but that is just for play. You want a nice fat seedling for that and you barely go into the tissue at all.

I've been growing plants since I was could tie my shoes. I propagated African Violets by leaf before I learned my times tables. The bottom line is I love plants, nature, forests, etc. Watching butterflies hatch, hummingbirds swoop in... it all makes me feel at peace. When you hybridize, graft, grow from seed, etc... you often learn to take thing slow and find excitement in watching the simplest flower open for the first time. You become an active participant in nature, but I don't think that is limited to the plants we grow simply to grow. Nor are the plants we grow for medicines or food any less important. For me, it is the connection we make with nature and with plants in general and that relationship can be fostered just like any other relationship. Treat your plants with respect and realize that they have gifts to offer such as food, medicine, beauty, purifying the air, etc. But also realize we can bring gifts to our plants. Gifts of water, fertilizer, good soil, appreciation, respect, and yes even the air we breath out. We are connected. We are related. That is what it is all about. Fostering that feeling that we instinctively know is true, but also realizing that science validates that connection as we truly are all connected.

Day 16 Lophophora williamsii x Lophophora fricii I love to see hybrid pictures @bardo so please feel welcome to share anytime on this thread if you so desire.

Your giant specimens look much larger than my seedlings and they aren't even grafted. Great job getting these up to this size on their own roots so fast. Looks like you had greater than 50% germination rate as well which for this cross? Excellent results my friend!

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Day 11 Lophophora williamsii x Lophophora fricii

As small as that specimen is, I might forego grafting and just remove any normal pieces of growth for a bit. The reason I say this is that when I have grafted newly turned crested specimens or even older ones for that matter, they do often revert back to normal form for a bit. How long that bit is seems to vary from a few weeks, to months, or even longer. Of course, you could also graft a small piece of your new mutant to something and check out that property right away. Just leave the majority of your crested specimen intact.

Lophophora williamsii x Lophophora fricii day 10 As you can see, this go round the grafts are being a little slow to take off, but I suspect any day now there will be a leap in growth. Not to detract from this thread... I'll add in another pretty . This one is a Lophophora jourdaniana.

Lophophora williamsii x Lophophora fricii Day 9

@TheMooseZeus I planted mine directly in the ground so that is kind of cheating. I watered it daily however. Ground was mostly sand as I planted my BHWR on a small island. Again, I call it cheating when the conditions are that good. Definitely think of upsizing the pot though as my suspicion is the pot may be too small.

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I don't know about some plants, but I know my BHWR flowered and set seed as soon as it reached the top of the tree which for me took 2 seasons as I started late if memory serves.

Looks like all you need are some high quality seeds to graft now that you have started collecting your grafting stock already.

This is the first I have heard of this, but after a brief search for Trichocereus and seeing much san pedro on ebay I am a bit perplexed. As concerns paypal, I know some very nice Trichocereus hybridizers that utilize paypal for sale of cacti as well as seeds. Do you think those will be affected as well. Any links to this information on either? Sorry if all of this is common knowledge, but I don't do most social networking platforms outside of forums like this.

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Death ceremonies and rituals are something that definitely interest me. And as a cultural views collide it seems more and more interesting options are coming to surface. Fantasy Coffins are another option I like.

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