Subject:     hexaploids
Received:    3/5/99 10:56 AM
From:        Peter F. Mueller
To:          nick15@eve.assumption.edu

Nick,

I would be glad to take part in the "hexaploid project". Also,
I would be happy to make chromosome counts of the other cultivars
you suggested.

I've never done counts with daylilies, but several times with
lilies. I assume the same technique will work.

Right, the most successful technique is to take the tip of a root.
It is important that the plant at that time is growing well,
so that one can find cells in the right stadium of mitosis.

It is good to have several root tips, because preparing the sample
is a little delicate, at least with the technique I'm using.
Namely one has to boil the root tip for a few seconds in
`Karminessigsaure'. If it was a little too long, then the cells
are too damaged to work with, if it was too short, then the coloring
will be insufficient.

I'm not sure whether the chances for a successful count of Hexxed
are good if you just send root tips. The tips will certainly stop
growing when cut off from the plant. Maybe one can fix the state
by putting them in alcohol and sending them this way. If this does
not do too much damage to the cells which are just undergoing
mitosis, it might work.

There is another issue of sending plants to Germany. Theoretically,
there must be a phytosanitary certificate being included.
If you have the possibility to get one, I would of course pay for
it..... I hope we can work out this problem somehow.

Best wishes,
               Peter