Common mutations that you will see in plants

Via monsteraalbo

Plants are very odd ‘creatures’ and are capable of many mutations! It is naturally induced due to many reasons including heat stress, or a mutation in the plant cells. In this blog post today, I’ll go over 5 of the most common mutations that you see in plants.  There are many more to cover, but this is only the start!

@donnarainey4

Fasciation:

• Fasciation is when the growing tip of a plant grows elongated and perpendicular to the direction of growth. The plant looks flattened and ribbon-like

• It can form in the root, stem, flower head, or fruit

• It is caused by many factors including, random mutation, bacterial infections, or mites

u/leafypainter

Cresting in succulents:

• Cresting is the same as fasciation!

• You will notice that the succulent grows tall and flat instead of growing stems

• The leaves grow along the top of the single stem

• They are prized in the succulent community, so it might be expensive to get your hands on one

Labrina/Wikimedia Commons

Chimera in fruit and flowers:

• A genetic chimerism is where one organism’s cells have more than one genotype. In plants, this could be mutation during cell division

• Graft chimera - most common one that you would see. Where two plants of different cultivars or species are grafted together and become one plant. For example, most fruiting trees

• Nuclear gene-differential chimera - is caused by a nuclear gene randomly (or induced) mutates to a dominant or recessive gene. One character is usually affected at a time, for example, the leaf

Frida Beth

Variegation in plants:

• Variegation is the appearance of a different colour in the leaves, stems, flowers, or fruit of a plant

• With houseplants, you will notice there are many on the market, varying in price

• The plant has different colours because there will be a lack of chlorophyll in the plant. When you see all white plants (like monsteras) they will be very expensive due to the care. You’ll need to make sure the plant has enough light or it could revert

notcutts

Variegation that has reverted:

• Reverted variegation is often caused by the plant needing more chlorophyll in its cells for photosynthesis. It will ‘kill’ the cells that lack chlorophyll and grow new ones

• This is bad news for plant collectors as variegation greatly increases the value of the plant!

• To prevent this, make sure you give your plant enough light to compensate for the lack of chlorophyll

• Reverting can also be caused by random mutation, sudden change in the heat or cold, or over watering

I hope you have all learned more about plant mutation and its causes. Let me know if you have anything to add to this post!

 

----> Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, Nate.