Established a micropropagation laboratory at Urna Vitae LLC for use in ornamental plant breeding. Designed layout and specified and procured equipment including laminar flow hood, sterilizers, shaker and light shelves. Laboratory is used to multiply ornamental cultivars and for in vitro chromosome doubling to produce allopolyploids and autopolyploids.
| Company: Urna Vitae LLC |
This laboratory is used for the Urna Vitae ornamental perennial sunflower breeding program and compliments the Urna Vitae embryo rescue laboratory by providing facilities to multiply the interspecific and intergeneric hybrids recovered by embryo rescue. Microcuttings from these hybrids and species are also treated in vitro to double their chromosomes. This results in allopolyploids and autopolyploids, respectively. Doubling the chromosome compliment of F1 interspecific hybrids produces A1 amphiploids and often results in fertile plants where the undoubled hybrid was entirely sterile. This allows the A1 hybrids to be used to produce subsequent generations.