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The North Coast

While my experience on this issue is limited, here is a radical, outside the box observation.

Foaming stumps start in the part of the stem know as the hypocotyl or the area below the cotyledon. The area above the cotyledon is know as the epicotyl (true vine) and that doesn't foam. I understand that in the advanced stages of a foaming stump the epicotyl can get messed up, but for the most part it is the hypocotyl that foams.

So, would eliminating the hypocotyl eliminate the possibility of foaming stumps?

The procedure would be to grow out a plant then clone it.

There is also a good possibility that this new hyocotyl-less clone would have a greater initial rooting habit due the the hormone used in the process.

It would be easy to say that this is impractical but would it work?

1/25/2013 10:15:02 AM

Springfield, VT

No, the vine will also foam in some cases usually it just leaks liquid.

1/25/2013 1:16:39 PM

Bethlehem CT

My gut says that it would probably help some with Mr. Foamy. But I think the plant may lack the natural initial vigor from the seedling's own roots. To the best of my knowledge, something like that has never really been tried. (When the cutting is taken from a young rapidly growing seedling. Matt D has been using cutting propagation for years, but he uses material off of mature record setting plants.)
Ron Wallace has done a lot of work researching foamers, he has put out a lot of good info over the years. (I feel he is very close to eliminating foamers completely) I may be able to find some old articles if you are interested, I can send them out to you.

2/26/2013 9:39:57 AM