"Mericlones" are also often called "meristems." Same thing.


"Aaron Hicks" wrote in message
...

The term "mericlone" is applied to clonal propagules derived from
the meristematic tissue of sympodial orchids. In other words, plants that
are cloned from orchids that "spread" (cattleyas, cymbidiums,
odontoglossums, etc.) are called "mericlones." Used to be that people
considered mericlones to be virus-free; while it is generally true that
viruses MAY be eliminated using specific techniques on top of the usual
mericloning process, these techniques are rarely employed due to the
additional expense. It is generally easier to simply test parent plants
for viruses before cloning the bajeezus out of them.

Plants that are "stem propagated" or are "stem props" are derived
through a process by which the parent plant has the "stem" (not the proper
term- used here, it is the inflorescence) treated so that it produces
propagules in sterile culture. In principle, it is similar to the
induction of keikis using hormones, except that it is carried out in
sterile culture. A little more hormonal push-and-pull, and additional
propagules can be wheedled out of a single bit of tissue.

Stem props are used to produce relatively inexpensive clones of
popular phals. Aside from Phalaenopsis and Doritis, I don't know which
other genera may be propagated in this manner. Phals are certainly by far
and away the most popular.

-AJHicks
Chandler, AZ

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