Final Entry: End of a Sad Journey

Results for the double encapsulations experiments revealed that the seeds did not germinate on the sphagnum moss. Nevertheless the dehydration and contamination of the seeds was successfully overcome. This indicates that the antifungal agent that was used worked efficiently. As for the liquid culture on the rotating drums previous results showed that large volumes of medium do not promote an optimal environment for the development of the protocorms. This led us to perform a duplicate of this experiment but reducing the mediums volume. Even though this was employed last results indicated that most of the protocorms began to die. This suggests that there is a possibility that liquid culture is not a viable method for the propagation of this orchid specie. Based on this it was conjectured that this may be related with the epiphyte (they grow on tree cortex) property that characterizes such species.

Unfortunately, due to some unexpected events the laboratory suffered a permanent damage which turned it into a nonfunctional one. Hence the project had to be put of hold and therefore remaining unconcluded. For this reason that next semester I will begin a new investigation with Dr. Patricia in the Chemical Engineering Department. Further one I will post brief explanation of what is my new project about.

~ by jctec on November 26, 2008.