Early flask contamination

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

One of my flasks has been contaminated with fungus. It's still early and there're only two small patches is this salvageable? The seeds haven't germinated.

[John D.]

It's possible if you can transfer some seed to another steril flask without contamination from contact. The longer you wait the higher the risk from spore development.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Thank you.

[s1214215]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Thank you.

I had a similar thing happen. I used a long spoon to scoop out the infected area, then I used a long gas torch gun to scorch for a minute the area that had been scooped. I worked. No recontamination and little loss of seed.

Brett

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by s1214215

I had a similar thing happen. I used a long spoon to scoop out the infected area, then I used a long gas torch gun to scorch for a minute the area that had been scooped. I worked. No recontamination and little loss of seed.

Brett

Am I getting this right? You scooped out the fungus and flamed the inside of the flask while the seeds were still in it? Was the germination rate affected at all? I realise that there was nothing to lose in doing it but I'm impressed by the resilience of orchid seed if you got germination.

[s1214215]

Correct, I scooped out the fungus and flamed the inside of the flask while the seeds were still in it. I just used a long handled teaspoon to scoop, but I am sure there are better things to use. I had to keep the flask flat as possible to avoid rinsing liquid around the flask - lucky for me there was little water in it.

I then used a long necked gas lighter gun, the kind you use to light gas stoves. I tilted the flask and burnt just the area of infection. As it was small, about a dime coin size infection, I flamed a little larger area than that. I still have 70% of my seed and it is germinating. The flame is not huge from these types of gas lighters - about the same as a cigarette lighter.

Brett

[s1214215]

A pic of my flask 10 days after contamination scare

Brett

[RoyalOrchids]

Originally Posted by s1214215

I had a similar thing happen. I used a long spoon to scoop out the infected area, then I used a long gas torch gun to scorch for a minute the area that had been scooped. I worked. No recontamination and little loss of seed.

Brett

I've used the "scoop" method but I used an autoclaved tool and made sure to leave clean margins (scoop out a bit more than you think is contaminated).

You can fill the void with sterilant (bleach, peroxide, etc.) just for good measure. I'd try that before flaming the entire flask!

[s1214215]

Hi Royal

I didnt flame the entire flask. Just the infected patch. It is not as drastic or dangerous as you may think.

You can see the area that was treated. I think given the situation, it was an acceptable result.

Like I said though. It was only a small area of infection and the flame was small. Well what ever works I guess. Horses for courses.

Brett

[RoyalOrchids]

Originally Posted by s1214215

You can see the area that was treated. I think given the situation, it was an acceptable result.

Like I said though. It was only a small area of infection and the flame was small. Well what ever works I guess. Horses for courses.

Exactly, you can't argue with results! That's one of the many reasons I love this site. I would have never thought to heat treat spot contamination. Now I'll have that in my arsenal of tools. Thanks for the tip!