I have recently had a discussion on this topic with a person growing this kind of variegated Musa Aeae and there was no argument about the high price. The fact is that it is not more difficult to propagate than any other similar Musa, but it is more difficult to propagate than the Musa that are not similar and are easier to propagate, while on the other hand it is much easier to propagate than the Musa that are not similar and are much more difficult to propagate. The problem itself was said to be difficult to propagate but in reality the difficulties come after separation.
Aeae seems to be a chimera; in other words, they have a mixture of cell in which part of them lack the ability to produce chlorophyll. So, if the new shoot arises from a group of "green" cells, you end up with a fully green plant; if from a "white" group ... a white plant; and if from a mixed "green" and "white" cells ... a true Aeae.
I am surprised to read in your comments that you normally listen to and believe salesman that find problems where others find solutions.
It is perfectly normal that white plants die within the first few years after they loose their connection with the mother plant, it appears to be a very traumatic experience. I recently lost a white banana plant 5 months after it lost it's connection with the mother plant. Now that I can reflect on my loss I suddenly realized that the mother plant is still alive and may have witnessed me killing her pup. Since they are not able themselves to photosynthesize carbohydrates to survive I began to theorize a solution while drinking coconut water. In theory, the only way to keep them alive would therefore be to feed and water them, so I choose to do both at the same time by using juego de pseudostem.
FACT
Albinos are more difficult to stabilize after separation.
Hone your technique on albinos and then the variegated ones will seem easy.
REAL PROBLEM WITH AEAE
Too many myths.
Quote:
Originally Posted by grinflask
I have recently had a discussion on this topic with people selling this kind of variegated Musa Aeae and the argument for the high price of these plants was the difficulties in propagation. As mentioned before, the fact is that it is not more difficult to propagate than any other similar Musa. The problem itself was said to be difficult to mantain the variegated display in the new plants, since only a small portion of them will look like a typical Aeae.
Aeae seems to be a chimera; in other words, they have a mixture of cell in which part of them lack the ability to produce chlorophyll. So, if the new shoot arises from a group of "green" cells, you end up with a fully green plant; if from a "white" group ... a white plant; and if from a mixed "green" and "white" cells ... a true Aeae.
I am surprised to read in your comments that you normally dont find problems to produce variegated pups. This does not fit with the above.
It is perfectly normal that white plants die once they loose their connection with the mother plant, since they are not able themselves to photosynthesize carbohydrates to survive. In theory, the only way to keep them alive would therefore be to give them sugar, and the only way to do so would be under sterile conditions in tissue culture (otherwise all kind of fungus and bacteria will overgrow and kill the plant).
Could be really nice to see a fully white plant in vitro ... and why not, to try also to TC your variegated plants and see if you can keep variegation in the new shoots.
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