a blue real phal

[Orchid Whisperer]

My reaction to this is . . . well . . mixed.

Comparing the photos posted here, and elsewhere, of this GM orchid to the blue-dyed (or orange- or green-dyed) Phals, the GM version is marginally less "fake" looking.

If someone handed me a seedling of it, would I grow it? Probably, but only for the novelty of seeing it close-up; I would probaibly then give it away. I don't care much for many of the so-called "blue" orchids (especially the ones that are supposed to be blue Cattleya alliance, or blue Phal. violacea, etc., but which are really and inferior shade of purple). I doubt I would ever buy such a plant. Vandas are really the only blue-means-purple orchids I care much for, and for some reason, it works on them (at least to my eye).

But, everyone is entitled to their own aesthetic. Heck, I realize that even those fakey-fakey looking dyed Phals have a market - somebody must love them or there would not be so many of them!

[lazaah]

Here's a whole genus of blue orchids for you....

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Wild Orchid

So what was the end of the story? Did anybody succeed in ordering the plants?

Yeah, I got them in about a couple months ago. Some other people got their plants too. Don't know how theirs are doing, but for the most part mine are doing pretty good.

I bought 2 tuberoids of Thelymitra cyanea.

One died because I got too busy for a few days, and I forgot to water them.

The other one made it out of the neglect, but half the emerging shoot got eaten by a slug. The newly emerging shoot was about 1/2" tall before the blasted slug grazed through half the stem.

I got pissed at the slug and fed the s.o.b. to my Keeled Slug Eating Snake.

The remaining tuberoid is not doing too good. It may not make it.

Many of the plants I ordered this time around are doing well.

The only other plant I lost was 1 Ophrys omegaifera. It got watered during dormancy without me being aware that it was, and it rotted out.

It was never a matter of if I'd be able to get the plants into the US; I knew I was able to get them in legally before I placed the order. It was just a matter of taking the time to go through the process. Once the process was done, everybody who followed through with their order got their plants. I never had an issue with the seller.

The only plant from this order that I have photos posted of was for Disa sagittalis. I have several pics of this plant on my Flickr account. I'm doing a case study of this species, and have photographically documented some of the stages of growth for this plant. I will continue to do so for the next couple of years, until I fully understand this plant.

[kindrag23]

Wait there is auch a thing as a slug eating snake? Or is that a plant? Im confused?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

Wait there is auch a thing as a slug eating snake? Or is that a plant? Im confused?

Yes, there is such a thing as "slug eating snakes".

No, a Keeled Slug Eating Snake is not a plant, it is a snake. Class Reptilia, Order Squamata, Suborder Serpentes.

The species I own is known scientifically as Pareas carinatus. As far as I know, it is an obligate feeder of slugs and snails that comes from Malaysia.

Pareas carinatus is not the only species that eats slug and snails. Pretty much the entire genus [Pareas], are obligate slug and snail eaters.

There are other snakes that also feed on snails and slugs. In Latin and South America, certain species of Sibon and Dipsas also feed on slugs and snails.

In North America alone, there a few Garter Snakes and Ribbon Snakes [genus Thamnophis] that feed on slugs along with fish and other fare.


Here's something that'll throw everybody for a huge loop...

There is at least one known species of true viper, [Family Viperidae, Subfamily Viperinae], that feeds exclusively on earthworms and night crawlers, (and, yes, it is venomous)! There is video evidence of this, so it is not hearsay.

I know earthworms are not slugs, but I wanted to let people know that not all snakes eat rodents. In fact, there are lots of snakes that have to be tricked into eating rodents in captivity, because if they weren't, they would have to be fed their natural diet, which isn't always easy to provide for. However, there are quite a few snakes that will outright refuse rodents no matter what.

[Tindomul]

It think its all very interesting. However I also agree that the potential real life dangers of creating GMO's are endless, how many food allergies can be blamed on GMO's, death of Monarch butterflies etc...
If these plants had these genes introduced to the genome at an early stage of development, say embryo stage, than the blue is proably heritable. I guess as time goes on we will find out.
Maybe one day, as the human population rises beyond the means to produce enough food, people will genetically modify themselves with plant genes and make their own food with sunlight, then some people may choose to make a fashion statement and have some body parts GMOS'd (Genetically Modified Organ system) to grow an actual orchid on it (say the shoulders or back of neck or something). LOL, that will be really interesting times.

[theroc1217]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

Its genes have been altered. If they DNA test the plant its not all orchid. Orchid isnt part of the Lilly family but its not a far stretch from orchid to lilly. The DNA and recombinant genes of the lilly IMO make it not an orchid. A 'Lillychid' maybe . Im curious to see how they are represented at Orchid Societys and how they are eventually classified. Its a very interesting situation indeed if for no other reason than the science involved and how much work went into the plants. And Im also pretty sure you cant buy one of these at any price right now. Well maybe 100,000 USD might get you 1

Technically it is still all orchid. The white orchids don't produce pigments in the flowers (well white) but all they did is tell the orchid how to make blue pigments. It's DNA isn/t changed at all, but it does now contain extra little rings of DNA and RNA that tell it to make blue proteins.

Essentially, they didn't dye it, but the gave it the information, in the form of DNA/rNA, and the command to turn itself blue using the amino acids it already has; due to the form that this information is carried in, it will be passed on to the plants offspring. The DNA in the nucleus remains unchanged and thus it is still 100% orchid, however it still contains other bits of DNA inside the cell that replicate themselves and produce blue pigment.

Hybridizing with this variety will prove really interesting, as instead of mixing the colors of the parents, this blue will always just be added to whatever other colors the orchid produces. This technique could also be used to create a truly black orchid, using expression of many different colors. Similarly, if an orchid doesn't produce enough of the correct amino acids to construct the pigmenting proteins, that color might not be expressed in the intensity that it would in other species. I suspect that is why they used 3-4 different proteins to pigment this Phal, hoping to use as any of the available amino acids as possible and not to deplete any one type.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The project involving genetic modification of a Phal to produce blue flowers, in my opinion, is not a worthwhile project. I think it is more of a vanity project than anything.

As has been stated before - there already are blue orchids that are naturally blue.

Unfortunately, they are part of a group of orchids that are currently somewhat difficult to cultivate because the knowledge about their biology is rather shoddy.

If people took the same amount of time and effort to look into the specifics of how these naturally blue orchids grow and function, perhaps there wouldn't be such a desire to produce a GMO blue Phalaenopsis - idk. In the process of finding out about these orchids, maybe, we might even save them from extinction, who knows.

[theroc1217]

My Thelymitra is actually growing quite well! It's sending out roots, and I can see the leaf beginning to from from the shoot. I'm thinking I might need to bring it inside into the greenhouse for the winter though (zone 3).

[kentaki]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

The project involving genetic modification of a Phal to produce blue flowers, in my opinion, is not a worthwhile project. I think it is more of a vanity project than anything.

I disagree. Why is it not worthwhile? Scientists are curious beings by nature.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

If people took the same amount of time and effort to look into the specifics of how these naturally blue orchids grow and function, perhaps there wouldn't be such a desire to produce a GMO blue Phalaenopsis - idk. In the process of finding out about these orchids, maybe, we might even save them from extinction, who knows.

This is coming from somebody who confessed killing a naturally blue orchid out of his neglect. I am not flaming, and sorry if I sound cynical, but you can't nonchalantly dismiss somebody's effort when you actively engaged in the very act that is the direct opposite of saving them from extinction.

As for myself, I am reluctant about consuming GMO's and understand "sentiments," but when it comes to ornamentals, especially crops that do not have pollen that is disseminated by the wind, I am much less concerned. Where to draw a line at personal level is up to an individual. There are some people who believe wild species should not be even considered for cultivation, and for them, growing orchid orchid species, or tissue culturing such plants would be like a sacrilegious act. I am more concerned about the wholesale attitude against GMO's or atmosphere that anybody opposing anti-GMO sentiment can be ostracized or his views misconstrued.