Cloning Goose Berries

2^nd Use Science Project to Daddy and Daughter Time

This entry is going to be a bit more DIY, focusing on the cloning of plants. This writing just scratches the surface of the practice but will go through some of the basics.  I think my success was based on, ‘sure am lucky that cultivar of gooseberries my neighbor had was so cooperative.’

I also want to acknowledge the universe that creates opportunities or events that make life worth living. The hard part, for some especially my not so in the pass self, is looking at these events as opportunities rather than chores.

The story starts with my daughter Maura having her first science project. I asked and she conceded to do a horticulture science project and since money was tight and I wanted to plant some bramble, well it just all seemed to fit.

What is cloning plants? To the best of my understanding it is the taking of genetic-containing tissue, such as stem or twig, in order to create another plant identical to the DNA donor or parent plant. This practice, on the level of my approach, is more specifically referred to as vegetative propagation. Whereas a higher technology approach in cloning generally refers to the taking of a small tissue sample from the parent plant to reproduce the new genetically identical prodigy.

FYI- many plants clone themselves naturally, sending out shoots for new vegetation such as bramble or the aspen tree, which is on record for being the largest single living organism on the planet. That is why cloning is a relatively simple process—it is of nature.

I referred to http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/biotec/cloneplant.html

So here is the DYI of it.

First thing needed is some research on the species you want to propagate from cuttings. Some variations are simple to propagate and you simply cut a bit of the plant off and put it in glass water until roots develop and then transplant to the new home. My approach to gooseberries was a bit more complex, not sure it needs to be?

First we needed to find a pot and, since they were previously used, we made sure it was clean and sterile. To sterilize the pots to prevent fungus, virus, bacteria and other damaging microbes, I used a sprayer with 1:9 parts chlorine bleach to water. First we washed the pots and then sprayed all the surfaces and allowed them to totally dry outside for ventilation. You see, chlorine solution is poison and therefore kills microbes but evaporates and leaves no residue. I like to limit my exposure as much as possible to poison so I wear gloves and use it  in a well-ventilated area. I use bleach to sterilize because I come  from a food service background and I think it works. With research you can find several ways to sterilize pots, so choose your own path. 

These are the photos we used for her science project presentation.

From left to right, first Maura washed the recycled pot.  Next she  prepared the growing medium which in this case was a potting soil mix of 1:1 sphagnum moss and horticultural perlite. Finally, she filled the pots and moistened the soil.

We then located the cultivar or parent plant we wanedt to propagate from; in this case it was gooseberries in my neighbors yard. You want the parent plant to be healthy and pest free.

Maura cut a nice healthy twig with clean sharp cutters.

The cuts should be at a 45 degree angle to create more surface area and the cutting or twig should be flexible and showing some signs of vitality as seen in the above photo. Next, cut off the tip of the twig to remove the apical bud as seen in the above photo on the right. This will encourage growth of leaves on the stem.

Then Maura poked a whole in her dirt and dipped the bottom end of the twig in rooting hormone (which I am not sure is even needed in this type of cutting propagation).

She then planted her cutting in the prepared pot about two inches deep.  It is important to bury the stem deep enough so that some of the stem buds, which are located at the juncture where the thorns come out of the stem, are in the soil. This is where the future roots will emerge.

We then just labeled what we did with info of specimen, date, and process. We placed them in the light and kept the soil moist.

The project was a success so in a couple of years we might well end up with some gooseberries, but through the documentation of Maura’s experiment for a school assignment I also documented the growth and development of another experiment in propagation—my beautiful daughter 1 year later—thank the wacky universe. 

 

Maura with gooseberries 1 year later. She loves her Daddy.