Has it been tried?  It could be a way of keeping the genetic code of the Hyophorbe amaricaulis going, it would be an interesting project,

regards

colin

Ok , this was a genuine question

the following is an extract from iucn redlist

Last individual existing in the wild and hence the risk of extinction is very high. Also intrinsic factors in the only plant preventing pollination. Last specimen of this species growing in Curepipe Botanical Garden. Had been reported in the past on the top of Peter Both Mountain. For a very long time it has been confused with H. ilagenicaulis (Round Island bottle palm). This single specimen has persisted within the Curepipe Botanical Garden for over fifty years, and flowers and fruits regularly. However, the fruits are sterile because the male flower open before the female, thus precluding any pollination. Although this palm does not produce viable seeds, plants have on several occasions, been cloned by tissue culture of the embryo at Wye, Edinburg, and Kew. Unfortunately, each time the plants were removed from sterile medium, they died.

Habitat and Ecology Tropical degraded forest (upland forest).

Threats Only individual existing in the wild. Hence very susceptible to disease, and cyclone. Prone to hybridization. No natural pollination because of intrinsic factors

Conservation Measures Collection are storage of pollen for self pollination under controlled conditions. Cloning of remaining genotype: Material has already sent to Kew Garden by National Parks and Conservation Service and they are using H. lagenicaulis as test plant whereby they have been successful with the somatic embryogenesis of the said species.

Has any one heard how this is going

regards

Colin

Hi Colin,

It was talked about many years ago , and as you have

shown The Quote, I think instead of just a few places,

Eg other Countries need to have access to material

that they should increase there chances,Bet they start

to die as soon as there removed from the agar.

Prior to even touching the medium.

Apart from that no other updates have come to light.

Maybe Mr Dransfield could check for us.

        Regards Mikey.

I've often wondered a lot about plant immune systems. Maybe because the plants have been cloned they have no immune system and die from any attack. Maybe they require the genetic code from another parent to create an immune system. I asked my TAFE teacher once about plant immune systems when doing my Hort studies and was told that you must go to University to learn that sort of stuff. I suppose that's one way to say "I don't know".

regards

Tyrone

I've been giving this one a bit of thought. Is anyone into the genetics and cloning area who would know whether there is a mechanism that might prevent a cloned plant from having an immune system such as has happened with Hyophorbe americaulis dying when removed from a sterile environment? I've had a search on the net, but as I'm not a biochemist the information is way above my understanding. What I have found is that they now consider plants to have complex immune systems much like animals. I'm wondering when science first started cloning rats and sheep whether their first creations died of infections due to an inoperative immune system. If they did, how did they get around it? Maybe this isn't a question for this forum, but I wonder if anyone knows.

regards

Tyrone