農業及栽種界裡,經常都會用上名為嫁接(Grafting)的手段,意思即係將植物的一部份轉移到另一植物之上,繼續延續植物的生命。816Please respect copyright.PENANAI05R2ig7Ka
816Please respect copyright.PENANAjzCmINN4H5
嫁接適宜的話,將會帶來非常多的好處。假設植物A並不適宜在某土壤生長的話,只要將植物A嫁接到適合在該土壤生長的植物B身上,就能解決問題。816Please respect copyright.PENANA0iKT6t163m
816Please respect copyright.PENANAI1j18hRDR4
當然,講就當然易,做起上來都講求一定的技巧同有著相當的限制。816Please respect copyright.PENANAOjpCXTjJ64
816Please respect copyright.PENANAAqS13bWe1j
嫁接大致上分為接穗(Scion)及砧木(Root)兩大部份,簡單來說就係位於上方及下方的植物。(圖1)816Please respect copyright.PENANAGhFOrYSSzR816Please respect copyright.PENANAjErkb2DeXb
816Please respect copyright.PENANArnNBANR57c
816Please respect copyright.PENANABR9ZComYcQ
大部份的情況下,只有同科的植物才可以進行嫁接工序。816Please respect copyright.PENANA7EFwKlcBug
而正因如此,有一些「喪心病狂」的人會將同屬茄科的茄子及薯仔嫁接在一起栽種,更起上花名「Egg and Chips」,取其茄子Eggplant的Egg,及Potato將成為的Chips作稱呼。816Please respect copyright.PENANAL1ax8huMqR
816Please respect copyright.PENANAljhd2lqUUM
亦有一些人會將蕃茄及薯仔嫁接在一起,相信是為了方便自己煲蕃茄薯仔湯之用,又或者是製作茄汁與薯條一起共賞薯條;有興趣的話可自行Google TomTato。816Please respect copyright.PENANAdCdQq8bw7e
816Please respect copyright.PENANAqpYtHB2FQn
直至最近,有科學家發現了一種方法可以令唔同科的植物亦能嫁接在一起,並發表學術文章到《科學》期刊上。816Please respect copyright.PENANAEhbRVVpqTb
816Please respect copyright.PENANAvcLULcHPTn
Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/369/6504/698816Please respect copyright.PENANAgLWW8n7igu
816Please respect copyright.PENANA7U6VNQIhrP
他們所用的方法,就是利用菸草的莖部作為兩棵植物的中間人,圖2所顯示的就是他們的傑作,將經常被視作為野花的阿拉伯芥及蕃茄苗透過菸草莖部串在一起,最後成功令蕃茄修成正茄。816Please respect copyright.PENANATabJ2Aswws816Please respect copyright.PENANAfVJh8Ooh2N
816Please respect copyright.PENANAXhDSHckpnb
文章裡亦嘗試過各種不同的種合,蕃茄拼菊花,菊花拼大豆等等,一切亦能透過菸草莖部成功嫁接。816Please respect copyright.PENANAbypV2u091j
816Please respect copyright.PENANA8CMw3Ywkze
他們相信箇中的原因是菸草莖部其中一隻名為的β-1,4-glucanases酵素促進植物細胞速的嫁接傷口快速融合,確保水份及營養可以貫徹整棵植物,導致嫁接成功率大增(圖3)。816Please respect copyright.PENANAkhiERc5jz7816Please respect copyright.PENANATuVBgueuN1
816Please respect copyright.PENANACGkyNf9JiG
這是目前的推測,還有待進一步的認證。816Please respect copyright.PENANAZrXbD9bLpY
816Please respect copyright.PENANAvhGAAeNG96
但無論如何,他們的發現顯然會為業界帶來新衝突,不但可以令更多植物容易生長在不同環境裡頭,亦同時能增加生物多樣性,甚至更能將基因改造過的植物與不同植物融合,加大產量或防止害蟲侵蝕植物等等。816Please respect copyright.PENANAH1ZOY0Pvnn
816Please respect copyright.PENANApZOMCeyi7y
未來的植物,大有可能棵棵也有薯仔埋在根部裡頭。816Please respect copyright.PENANATsKh4uiF6o
816Please respect copyright.PENANAoTNulhRNzy