Erycina pusilla school test results

[Koen]

Hello everyone,

a few months ago i posted a topic about my a school paper about Erycina pusilla.

erycina pusilla - school project

In the meantime, only one and a had month to my exams, the test was a success.

Johan Keus from holland and also Dr. Barbara Gravendeel from University of Leiden, also in Holland, helped me a lot during the test, and the results were very surprising. Barbara did research to the genetics of this species, and Johan delivered plants for her research.

We made a experimental set-up. Johan made it for me, because he has got a laminar flow hood, and a lot of experience with working with working with in vitro orchids.

The experimental set-up includes pH levels of 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 9.0. We thought some Plant in the lower and higher pH levels were going to die. but instead, none of the plants died, and there al in flower right now. I. decided not to vary nutrient levels, but instead I varied the pH levels

here is a picture of the experimental set-up:



As you can see, none of the plants died, and there in flower. In the meantime, the plant have grown a bit bigger, and there al in flower, some plant with multiple flowers. In each of the glasses are two plants. In one of the glasses(5,5) in an bacterial infection, but according to Johan, this kind of bacteria is not harmful to the plants in vitro.
I think it's a really exciting result, and after my exams I'm going to write an article for the Dutch Orchid Society(NOV) for their monthly magazine.

My teacher is very proud of it, but he want a teacher of another school to have a look at it, because he thinks he is not able to rate is well. Coming thursday i have to present my paper and the results to my classmates, but I think this is going to be OK.

Thanks for reading and I'm looking forward to see your reactions.

Greets from Holland,
Koen

p.s I hope you understand my English, because it's not my daily language (which is Dutch)

[WhiteRabbit]

Wow - very cool! You did a great job!

[camille1585]

Your English is perfect, don't worry! So many dutch people apologize for their English, when in fact it is very very good. (And a whole lot better than my Dutch!)
I remember your first thread very well. I too am surprised by the results, I thought that by varying pH there would for sure have been differences. Great experiment, and I would appreciate if you could send me your NOV magazine article when you finish!
I really like Erycina pusilla, it's so cute. What are you doing with all those plants now?

[Koen]

Thanx everyone for the great comments so far.

I think my english is quite good, but I use google translate regulary.

Camille, I wil send you the article for the NOV magazine, but I think I have time to write it after the exams at first. I have the presentation of the project tomorrow, but I think it will be all right.

Apart from the plant in the glasses for the experimental set-up, Johan gave me a flask of Erycina pusilla, which I could use to show the principe of the normal in vitro method. In the flask(more a plastic cup/tray with a lid, you can see some of them in the picture of the experimental set-up)
are about 20 plants. So I have a lot of them. But I leave the plants in the glasses for as long as possible. I'm curious how they will grow and flower in the future. I leave the flask also closed and I don't know when i
I'm going to deflask them. I will see how they do in vivo(out of the flask). I think I'm going to mount them on cork, and place them in my orchidarium.

Sorry but I can't help you right now, there still are in vitro, and remain in vitro the next few months.

Greets,
Koen