Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: mark smyth on February 21, 2012, 02:30:09 PM

Title: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: 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 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17100574)

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: David Pilling 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.

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: ronm on February 21, 2012, 03:44:14 PM

Thank goodness for that. I thought a new stratification regime was being proposed! ;) ;)

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: 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 (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 ;)

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: Anthony Darby 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?

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: ronm on February 21, 2012, 08:38:14 PM

Do they germinate Anthony?
Please no ancient mud (d ) jokes ;D

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: Anthony Darby 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.

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: ronm 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

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: Anthony Darby on February 21, 2012, 09:04:51 PM

http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/item_893n_nelumbo_nucifera_ohga_hasu_seeds

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: ronm 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 :) :) :)

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: Anthony Darby 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.

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: ronm on February 22, 2012, 08:49:27 AM

ohhhh, ::) ::) ;D

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: Anthony Darby on February 22, 2012, 09:23:59 AM

I think that's neat!

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: Lesley Cox 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 (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

Title: Re: Silene grows after being frozen for 30,000 years
Post by: ronm 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