genetic diversity
James Tovee (106361.2125@compuserve.com)
Tue, 24 Dec 1996 15:07:27 -0500
Surely the plants that propagated vegatively should have very
little or no genetic diversity. It is only the plants grown from seed that
will diversify. I am mainly interested in Saracenia. Many of these are have
the area where they originated from appended to there name. These can only
be propagated vegatively to truly retain their name. The conditions in the
greenhouse will have to suit these plants from the wild and any seedlings
raised would have to be adaptable to grow in these conditions. Thereby
reducing any climatic induced diversity.
Genetic diversity is not all bad. The diversity of the VFT in the
red dragon was said to have occurred in the wild. It would interesting to
find some diversification in cephalotis. It is only with hybridisation and
gene diversification can new plants be developed. This is what has been
done with all the domesticated plants.
I do not think that many people keep their plants for
reintroduction to the wild, but if it was needed I am sure many people
would respond. These plants would certainly be better than extinction and
if they had diversified could be bred back to a survivable strain for
reintroduction.
Someone showed disapproval when I suggested putting some of my
surplus p. grandiflora hibernaculi into wild bogs. There has been news of
s. pupurea, flava and other nonindigenous plants being found in bogs in
England. Disapproval is stated, but it is also said that these plants
should be protected.
I do not understand the contradiction.
I have found very interesting the methods of overwintering
described, especially from people in England. This is because their
conditions are closer to mine living in the same country. I have thought
that America has equal or colder winters to England but there is some
difference to enable plants to survive the colder temperatures. Could the
differrence be the genetic diversity ?
All winters must be wet at least prior to any freezing peroid.
Maybe the length of time the ground is frozen is different, as the longer
it is frozen the deeper the frost will pentrate.
Jim Tovee