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Hey all,
After over a year of delay, I finally managed to get some sterile cultures going last March and in early May. It sure is convenient to have access to a lab with flow hoods and ethanol/supplies! The jars and gel/nutrients are all purchased by me though.

I was in san diego all summer so i made these cultures a week before i left, placed them under my lights with the rest of the plants in the basement (~80-85F in summer), and then I came back after 3 months to see what happened :0o:.

I decided to use a ton of media in each of the jars so that they could hopefully live longer after germinating.
I should've used more gelrite since the gel was almost liquid after it solidified...so after 3 months, the plants used up all the nutrients and the gel became entirely liquid for many, even though I stirred the gelrite/nutrient melted mix really well before pouring most of the jars. Tips would be appreciated.

but here's what i did if you're interested (I used 1.5-mL microcentrifuge tubes and vortexed them on the vortex genie):
70% etoh rinse for all seeds, 2mins
Larger seed size group- do 6 min vigorous vortexing in 10% bleach (ie D. capensis, D. indica)
Med seed size group- do 6 min vigorous vortex in 5% bleach
Small seed size group- do 4 min vigorous vortex in 1% bleach (ie for D. burmannii or sessifolia)

My mix:
1/3 MS with vitamins (full conc. Is 4.4g/L)
30g/L sucrose
2.0g/L Gelrite

After spreading the seeds out with a pipetteman, I sealed the jars with micropore surgical tape, commonly used at ISU in tc labs.

About 1/4 didn't germinate and 1/6 had contamination. hopefully i will get better with time. I will also be taking a graduate level horticulture class to learn about sterile protoplast culture, pollen culture (i think) and other tc techniques, which should be amazing!!!

I am extremely appreciative of everyone's help- especially Dudo, Matt, and anyone who helped answer my annoying questions :)

So enough talk...here are the pics:
tc_jars_post.JPG


tissue_culture_setup_post.JPG


D. anglica
Anglica_Alakai_Swamp_tissue_culture_post.JPG


D. anglica var. 2
Anglica_Kanaele_tissue_culture_post.JPG


D. ascendens
Ascendens_Bandeira_Peak_tissue_culture_post.JPG


not all the plants made it...this jar didn't have enough media in it to keep them alive
Ascendens_Bandiera_dead_tc_post.JPG


D. brevifolia
Brevifolia__tissue_culture_post.JPG


D. collinsiae
Collinsiae_Magaliesburg_tissue_culture_post.JPG


D. indica from my 1st attempt:
Indica_tissue_culture_post.JPG


I should've stored it in the fridge, cuz it ran out of nutrients :(
Indica_dead_tissue_culture_post.JPG


D. nidiformis
Nidiformis_tissue_culture_post.JPG


D. sessifolia gone wild!
Sessifolia_tissue_culture_post.JPG


D. tokaeinsis jar 1 (just a little bit overcrowded ;))
Tokaeinsis_jar2_tc_post.JPG


D. tokaeinsis jar 2
Tokaiensis_tissue_culture_post.JPG


D. tomentosa
Tomentosa_tissue_culture_post.JPG


VFT (the only seed that germinated)
VFT_tc_post.JPG


typical D. capensis, grown in my 1st attempt and stored in the fridge for 3 months
Capensis_fridge_3_months_post.JPG


All sundews will be used for/by the ISU CP Club that my friend (forum name peat) and I started.

Thanks for looking!
Aaron
 
dang it....i wish my school had a CP club....i guess we're not as cool as you. your CP club is getting spoiled SILLY! super jealous!
 
D. ascendens!!! :laaa:
Good god man, share that wealth.. ~puppy dog eyes~
 
Wow those are some cool sundews!!

Good god man, share that wealth.. ~puppy dog eyes~

I agree
 
Aaron,
Good to see you are still going at it!
Plants are looking good! As always!

:wave:
"Yo" to you & Phil! It's been a long time!

:water:
Paul
GrowinOld


Personally, anyone who knows you, realizes you have already shared the wealth!
 
Oh nice, sundew-master :hail:
 
simply stunning! Cruising around your website the rest of the collection looks amazing as well :D
 
man, I gotta get into TC!

< adds to the list >

That's just so cool!
 
  • #10
I think it's awesome that you were able to start something and have it grow for three months without any care whatsoever. The magic of tissue culture!
 
  • #11
Thanks everyone! you're far too flattering :D. I agree microprop. makes it waaay easier to raise dews to maturity, which is why i wanted to try it so much. It's a bit painstaking though, even in the lab, so i'm in awe of people who are able to successfully do this at home.

I will do my best to keep these alive til i get back to school and hopefully i there will be some time to give some spares away.

Good to hear from you Paul! Hopefully we can make it to another midwest gathering in a year or so. Hope everything is "growing" well for you ;)
 
  • #12
Impressive and educational! About how much did the ingredients cost and where did you get them?
 
  • #13
Wow, you certainly did amazing! Especially for your first shot at tc!

Bravo, sir. :clap:
 
  • #14
Dang you rocked the TC dews. Well done Aaron !
 
  • #15
Update! :spazz:
 
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