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。869Please respect copyright.PENANAkihND1dsA4
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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。869Please respect copyright.PENANAoYgIWUgj6r
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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。869Please respect copyright.PENANAaXvYnenSHC
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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)869Please respect copyright.PENANAjN3Ctw9tb9869Please respect copyright.PENANAPyzIPLS0Hi
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大部份的情況下,只有同科的植物才可以進行嫁接工序。869Please respect copyright.PENANAqu39BIRiJe
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。869Please respect copyright.PENANAuA0qfv8rH0
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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。869Please respect copyright.PENANAAgTLrlfeMm
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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。869Please respect copyright.PENANA7IXCqK6yMN
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Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/369/6504/698869Please respect copyright.PENANARo8jEC32M2
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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。869Please respect copyright.PENANAqXXsTjX3Km869Please respect copyright.PENANAPy1pIRKq90
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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。869Please respect copyright.PENANA18sMatHA8g
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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)。869Please respect copyright.PENANA4yWKJtYgwh869Please respect copyright.PENANAjsJEqHNmLJ
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這是目前的推測,還有待進一步的認證。869Please respect copyright.PENANAxA0JLz3mYe
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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。869Please respect copyright.PENANAXfF7pBQYuD
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未來的植物,大有可能棵棵也有薯仔埋在根部裡頭。869Please respect copyright.PENANAtnCoHw9ul3
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