This information is from my memory so subject to error. I believe I read the teliospores shorten everytime a cell divides. After a number of years they are, in effect, down to the bare bones. It is at this stage that decreases in vigor and other characteristics are noticeable. Boyce Tankersley btankers@chicagobotanic.org -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Diane Whitehead Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 3:38 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society Subject: Re: [pbs] Clonal breakdown I have read articles on human aging that state that cells can duplicate themselves only a certain number of times. I'm not sure what happens when this point is reached: do they stop? do they accumulate mutations? Could this limit on cell duplication also be present in plants? Diane Whitehead _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php