|
part 2 of 2
Alfredo Manrique, the first Peruvian selected by
INRENA to propagate Pk in-vitro from five legally collected Pk plants
and now an expert Pk grower, fully agrees with the Moores that there
simply is no way one can produce 800 flasks from five legal Pk plants
in such a short time. What makes it even less likely is the fact that Manuel
Arias divided his five legal plants into too many
divisions; limiting flowering severely. The proof of this is in
the pictures taken of his
Pk plants in the last two years by INRENA. What many do not
know is that INRENA, since 2004, kept a picture archive of all the
Pk plants collected legally, taking pictures of the plants two or three times a
year.
Peruflora or Peruanino have no orchid nurseries,
they are exporters of Manuel Arias' orchids and in charge
of the in-vitro lab.
In 2002, as a non- Peruvian, I was concerned about the survival of the
species and suggested to INRENA that they immediately start an
in-vitro propagation program for Pk. I knew of several laboratories
in Peru who actively propagated orchids in-vitro.
Government wheels of progress turn slowly, it took another full
year, till 2003, before artificial propagation of Pk was started.
I know of one other non-Peruvian who also was concerned, Miss
Angela Mirro, who generously donated the proceeds of her first painting
of Pk to the Lima based Club Peruano de Orquideas, for the purpose of
establishing a Pk conservation program.
Some failures of Peru in connection with Pk
are that they did little to stop the total depletion of the big
Pk habitats and they had no plans for marketing the Pk species in
such a way that it would benefit the small
vendors living in the Pk habitat area, who up to this day live on less
than US$ 50.- per month and sell Pk plants
illegally at US$ 7.- each.
Peter
|
_______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
