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A
plant that contains a
mixture of tissues from two or more
genetically different
cells or tissues in the same part of a
plant. |
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These different
tissues can be spontaneously
mutated cells of the host
organism or cells from a different organism or
species produced as a result of
organ
transplant,
grafting (Graft
chimera), artificial
fusion of unlike tissues or
genetic engineering.
A chimaera show
variegation when some
of the plant’s tissues lose the ability to produce
chlorophyll so that this tissue
lacking of chlorophyll (usually white or yellow)
contrasting with the normal green tissue.
Because the chimera is due to the presence of two kinds of plant
tissue,
propagating the
plant must be by a
vegetative method of
propagation that preserves both types of tissue in relation to
each other.
◄ Left: A slide of chimerical stem of
Hylocalycium (Hylocereus undatus + Gymnocalicium cv. Hibotan)
showing the two different tissue. |
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[The name chimera derives from the Old French, from Latin “chimaera”,
from Greek “khimaira”, which means chimera, she-goat.
From Indo-European Root “ghei-“ Chimera is a Greek mythological
character a fire-breathing she-monster made up of the front parts of a
lion, the middle parts of a goat, and the tail of a snake she is the
daughter of Typhon.] |
