Re: Re: Tetraploid tectorum for tectorum X bearded

In a message dated 2/17/2004 2:22:07 PM Central Standard Time, voltaire@islandnet.com writes:


A friend has gone back to earlier methods of using colchicine only on
cotyledons


Several people more knowledgeable than myself have suggested colchicine to be to the most effective route to accomplish conversion. The caveat is that colchicine is a highly suspect carcinogen posing significant danger when misused. Because of this it has become more controlled and difficult to obtain in recent years.

Surflan S.A. (Oryzalin) is somewhat safer, easier to obtain, inexpensive and presents only minor disposal problems. Still, anyone is well advised to rigorously safe procedures with it or any other chemical.

If memory serves me (and it sometimes does not) Vaughn successfully used his technique on both hostas and spiderwort in addition to daylilies to accomplish conversions. I'm recallin' this from a 1994 seminar I think.

While colchicine is in fairly common use as a treatment for gout and arthritis dosages are extremely low relative to the lab product ordinarily used for solution preparation in plant conversions plus the facilities for pharmaceutical preparation of them somewhat ahead of most kitchens, shops, etc.



Colchicine is a dangerous substance which needs careful use and disposal. Very toxic and suspected to be carcinogenic. It would be advisable to wear gloves and a mask when handling either the colchicine or medium containing it so as to avoid hazard if an untimely cough, sneeze or spill should occur. Overdose of colchicine leads to the delayed onset of multiorgan failure and is frequently fatal. There is no specific treatment and the chances of survival can only be influenced by early and aggressive gastrointestinal decontamination (whether or not the patient is symptomatic). 7 mg to 60 mg is fatal. symptoms in about 4 hours, death in about 4 days. Damages blood vessels and nerves, and stops cell division. Probably a painful dead, because it damages nerves. About the toxicity of Colchicum autumnale, one of the plants containing colchicine: less than 2 grams of seeds is deadly for a child. One flower contains about 12 mg colchicine, 20g tuber provides 60mg, single seed provides 3.5mg. Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale) and Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba) contain about 0.1-0.8% colchicine in their bulbs and other parts.



I forgot from which web site the above info was extracted but it should be a serious enough caution for even the most fastidious lab technicians.

Smiles,
Bill Burleson
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