Canada: Prairie Plant Systems develops new crops with plant cloning
"The tiny cuttings are 'planted' in an opaque jello-like agar substrate bearing no resemblance whatsoever to soil. This medium contains all the nutrients that the plants need to grow without having a root system," explains Zettl. "Every species has a different recipe of nutrients because they're all slightly different in terms of what they need to grow."
When the seedlings reach a height of 10 centimetres (about four inches) they are cut into smaller pieces and replanted. This process is repeated until hundreds and even thousands of little seedlings have been cloned from the parent plant.
At this point, the seedlings are planted in soil and placed in the greenhouse where they are carefully tended until they grow roots and a thicker skin (more properly known as the cuticle). They are then transplanted into larger pots and, three to four months later, are ready to be planted outdoors.
Prairie Plant Systems obtains the parent plants from the University of Saskatchewan, where plant scientists created these fruit varieties over several years of careful selection and cross-breeding.
The newest of these fruits is haskap, also known as blue honeysuckle. Haskap is the Japanese name, where this plump bluish berry has long been popular as a medicinal food because it is high in nutrients such as vitamin C, calcium and antioxidants.
It has a sweet flavour, some say a cross between blueberries and raspberries. In the kitchen, it can be used in place of other berries - in fruit tarts, fruit crumbles or instead of strawberries in a spinach salad. They also make a nice wine or liquor.
Read more: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/health/Tasty+berries+from+petri+dish+dessert/8573945/story.html#ixzz2XDnia9b6
