We hope you have enjoyed the SRGC Forum. You can make a Paypal donation to the SRGC by clicking the above button

« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years  (Read 1534 times)

mark smyth

  • Hopeless Galanthophile
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15254
  • Country: gb
Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« on: February 21, 2012, 02:30:09 PM »
Silene seeds grow after being frozen for 30,000 years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17100574
Logged
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

David Pilling

  • Computer Guru
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 459
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2012, 03:39:14 PM »
I was reading Norman Deno's seed propagation book yesterday, and noted "all tales of seeds being germinated after 100's of years have been proved false" - in this case it appears the seeds were not viable but they performed something like tissue culture on the remnants of the fruit.

Interesting stuff anyway.

Logged
David Pilling at the seaside in North West England.

ronm

  • Guest
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2012, 03:44:14 PM »
Thank goodness for that. I thought a new stratification regime was being proposed! ;) ;)
Logged

johnw

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6696
  • Country: 00
  • rhodo-galantho-etc-phile
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2012, 05:41:23 PM »
Quote from: mark smyth on February 21, 2012, 02:30:09 PM
Silene seeds grow after being frozen for 30,000 years
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17100574

Lesley - Just think about that for a moment. How many more Galanthus species might there be lurking in the permafrost?  Late spring and summer flowers, we could post pictures 12 months a year from this hemisphaere alone. And with your hemisphaere double that.

johnw ;)
« Last Edit: February 21, 2012, 09:34:22 PM by johnw »
Logged
John in coastal Nova Scotia

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2012, 07:24:13 PM »
Chiltern seeds sell lotus seeds (Nelumbo nucifera 'Ohga Hasu') from plants grown from seeds found in ancient mud near Tokyo, but I think they were only 2000 years old?
Logged
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

ronm

  • Guest
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2012, 08:38:14 PM »
Do they germinate Anthony?
Please no ancient mud (d ) jokes ;D
Logged

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2012, 08:52:20 PM »
The seeds sold are several generations from the originals. I have germinated them in a waterlogged pot in the classroom.
Logged
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

ronm

  • Guest
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2012, 08:55:52 PM »
So Norman Denos claims are incorrect? ??? ???
I hope so as I'd like to believe that the seed could survive the ages and enable us to 'glimpse the past'. :o :o
Logged

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2012, 09:04:51 PM »
Logged
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

ronm

  • Guest
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2012, 09:08:25 PM »
A perfect response Anthony. Two years ago I had the perfect environment for such a plant. Now I'm not so sure, but I'm going to try. Thank you for the information :) :) :)
Logged

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2012, 11:37:17 PM »
The lotus seeds had survived in anaerobic mud. Seeds need three things to germinate: moisture, a suitable temperature and oxygen. They don't need light, tiger or otherwise.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2012, 02:34:22 AM by Anthony Darby »
Logged
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

ronm

  • Guest
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2012, 08:49:27 AM »
ohhhh, ::) ::) ;D
Logged

Anthony Darby

  • Bug Buff & Punster
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9647
  • Country: nz
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2012, 09:23:59 AM »
I think that's neat!
Logged
Anthony Darby, Auckland, New Zealand.
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution"
http://www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk/Choir/The-Choir.html

Lesley Cox

  • way down south !
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 16348
  • Country: nz
  • Gardening forever, house work.....whenever!
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2012, 07:31:07 PM »
Quote from: johnw on February 21, 2012, 05:41:23 PM
Quote from: mark smyth on February 21, 2012, 02:30:09 PM
Silene seeds grow after being frozen for 30,000 years
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17100574

Lesley - Just think about that for a moment. How many more Galanthus species might there be lurking in the permafrost?  Late spring and summer flowers, we could post pictures 12 months a year from this hemisphaere alone. And with your hemisphaere double that.

johnw ;)

You're really trying to upset me aren't you? Maybe send me right over the edge into dementia! :o

Before I read that the Silene still grows in Siberia,, and assuming it was extinct many thousands of years ago, I was wondering when it would reach the seedlists. Maybe soon. ;D
Logged
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

ronm

  • Guest
Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2012, 08:16:19 PM »
"and the cat crept in" Anthony, and I don't think you would be too happy about that! ;D ;D ;D
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
 

Scottish Rock Garden Club is a Charity registered with Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR): SC000942
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal