Truly wild! I will guess that, like the white leaf, the stems and pods will dry to light brown.
Bob
Chillard's White Angel Leaf Update
- Thread starter Jitterbugdude
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Bob
Matty
Well-Known Member
That leaf and those seed pods are remarkably white, that's so neat! Can hardly wait to see the flue cured leaf.
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
The only plants I know of which live their lives completely without chlorophyll are either saprophytic, breaking down plant matter or insects for nutrients, or have a mycorrhizal relationship with fungi, getting their nutrients from fungi through their roots. I highly doubt what we're seeing is that; however, I did a bit of research and discovered that the question as to whether tobacco interacts with fungi had been raised. For the most part, it makes sense that the leaf is sustaining itself by taking nutrients from the parts off the plant which are still green and by breaking down self. However, there is evidence that tobacco continues to get nutrients from fungi based on increased leaf size in plants inoculated with known symbiotic fungi.
This is an aside, but I find it relevant and interesting
This is an aside, but I find it relevant and interesting
rustycase
Well-Known Member
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
Effect of Endogone Mycorrhiza on Plant Growth by M.J.Daft and T.H.Nicolson 1966.
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
I have a novice enthusiast's knowledge of fungi. More than tobacco, I'd say. Anyways, on forays, it's common to run into Monotropa uniflora
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/indian_pipe.htm a white plant.The thought of which was brought to mind by this white tobacco. But of course, if there is help from fungi, it's minimal for tobacco.
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/indian_pipe.htm a white plant.The thought of which was brought to mind by this white tobacco. But of course, if there is help from fungi, it's minimal for tobacco.
ProfessorPangloss
Amateur Kentuckian
But micorrhizae are a common inoculant in commercial potting soil (I buy Pro Mix for that reason), so perhaps a controlled soil test is in order next year. I've always thought that that symbiotic relationship between plant roots and fungi is wildly fascinating.
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
Instead of using the potting soil, I would recommend using the endo product from Paul Stametz and mix it into your own soil. That way there will be fewer variables. Stametz is an American mycologist who has a fairly public persona. He literally wrote the book on mushroom cultivation, and i trust him over miracle grow.
http://www.fungi.com/shop/fungi-for-healthy-gardens.html
Edit. I wouldn't mix it into your soil, I would buy a one ounce bag for 5 bucks and inoculate seedlings when they're still in the tray.
The discussion of mycorrhizae has somehow displaced the subject of this thread.
Bob
Bob
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
Sorry. I'm personally looking forward to seeing photos of cured leaf, and finding out if this freak variant gets to be named by one of our members.
ProfessorPangloss
Amateur Kentuckian
It was relevant to speculating about what causes the white color.
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That's a valid point.
Today, I noticed that the seed pods that ought to be changing from green to yellow are instead changing from green to creamy white, as JBD has shown. Weird stuff.
Bob
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
I'm going to have to stop in and visit the Chillardbee farm /apiary to see what kind of voodoo goes on there.
Update: Interesting phenomenon. It appears that the lack of pigment causes the leaf to sun burn very easily
Here is leaf that was suncured. For reference the leaf on the bottom is a field cured YTB lug
Here is some shredded leaf. I was able to get the white color to set by putting a few white leaves into my kiln with the temp set at 140 degrees. For reference the dark tobacco is BigBonners Perique, the yellow is WLT's flue cured and the very light colored is White Angel Leaf.
Here is where the plot thickens.....
Notice how white the leaves are? Guess what... this is a Yellow Twist Bud plant that I planted about 2 feet away from a White Angel Leaf plant. So.. What's going on?
Here is leaf that was suncured. For reference the leaf on the bottom is a field cured YTB lug
Here is some shredded leaf. I was able to get the white color to set by putting a few white leaves into my kiln with the temp set at 140 degrees. For reference the dark tobacco is BigBonners Perique, the yellow is WLT's flue cured and the very light colored is White Angel Leaf.
Here is where the plot thickens.....
Notice how white the leaves are? Guess what... this is a Yellow Twist Bud plant that I planted about 2 feet away from a White Angel Leaf plant. So.. What's going on?
I have Chillard's adjacent to Columbian Garcia and Machu Picchu Havana, and an orphan Chillard's next to several other orphan varieties. I'll keep an eye on the neighbors.
If it actually affects the neighbors, then we are moving into the realm of an unusual root compound that somehow inhibits certain nutrient uptake (yikes! maybe inhibition of a required saprophytic fungus?).
Bob
If it actually affects the neighbors, then we are moving into the realm of an unusual root compound that somehow inhibits certain nutrient uptake (yikes! maybe inhibition of a required saprophytic fungus?).
Bob
Ok. My mind is blown.
ChinaVoodoo
Moderator
One of Alberta's previous premiers once said, (in reference to BSE), "Any self respecting farmer would shoot, shovel, and shut up".
CV,
If your post about BSE refers to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, I'm not sure of how the former Premier's comment relates to Chillard's White Angel Leaf tobacco.
Bob
If your post about BSE refers to bovine spongiform encephalopathy, I'm not sure of how the former Premier's comment relates to Chillard's White Angel Leaf tobacco.
Bob
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