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The mission of the International Association of Bryologists (IAB), as a society, is to strengthen bryology by encouraging interactions among all persons interested in byophytes.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

growing moss - purpose?

Subject: RE: growing moss
Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2002 06:51:23 +1000
From: Rod Seppelt <Rod.Seppelt@aad.gov.au>
To: <bryonet-l@mtu.edu>

In reply to Marika,
I guess it depends a bit on what you want to grow it for.
If the species is growing on old mine sites, it is presumably tolerant
of higher metal concentrations in its substrate. Such mosses are, most
likely, quite capable of growing on sunbstrates with much lower
concentrations of metals.
If you want to grow it with not much in mind, you could transplant it
with its native soil to the green house or wherever. Rather than low
light, perhaps, you could/should try to emulate the normal light
regime. If the light levels are too low, expet etiolation of the
plants. If you keep it too moist, expect algae and cyanobacteria to thrive.
If you were trying to assess the growth potential or tolerance of the
particular species to metals, you could try a range of substrates - both
natural and artificial.
AGAR is a traditional substrate for artificial culture but at least at
Kew Gardens in England (Jane Birch is their Bryophyte Conservation
Officer and a member of BRYONET) GELRITE is the preferred substrate.
The growth of species on GELRITE is apparently better than AGAR (Jane
will soon, hopefully, have her studies published!!!).
Anyway, with an "inert" substrate you can alter the metal concentration.
You could try Perlite or Vermiculite (but there may be mineral uptake
from the substrate), sterile sand, sterile peat, ceramic (non-glazed)
flower pots, etc., etc.
Again, it all depends what you want to use the cultivated moss for.
On an artificial substrate you can vary the pH of the medium - but this
will change over time.
The moss you have been looking at may or may not be at its "optimal"
growth conditions where it is found. It may be that the species
tolerate the low pH and high metal concentrations rather than having
this as a requirement.
Best wishes,
Rod Seppelt.

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