Re: Pollinating Amorphophallus konjac

-----Original Message-----
From: Don Martinson <llmen@execpc.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list AROID-L <aroid-l@mobot.org>
Date: Monday, February 28, 2000 10:11 PM
Subject: Pollinating Amorphophallus konjac


Dear Don,
A few quick tips--
Pollen is 'good' as soon as it is shed, use a paint brush (fine squirrel
hair will work) moistened in clean water to pollenate with, a dry one to
'sweep' it from the spathe to a glassene envelope, and it will 'keep' in the
fridge for several days.   Pollenate the female portion (cut away or cut
'windows' in the spathe to get at it)
as the spathe begins to open, wrap the spathe in a layer of saran wrap with
a bit of wet cotton wool in it for a day to keep humidity high, then take it
off.
Good luck!!
Julius
P.S.  I THINK that A. konjac is one species that sets seed without
pollenation!!!

>For the first time, I will have 2 non-clonal A. konjac blooming very
close (in time) to one another and I would like to attempt
pollination.

I've reviewed the pollination site at IAS
,(http://www.aroid.org/pollination/index.html)
and have learned that on any particular flower of Amorphophallus (A.
johnsonii was the example they used), the stigmas of the female
flowers will be receptive on the first day of flowering, but the
pollen of the male flowers is not released until the second day, but
by this time the females are unreceptive.  Thus, what I'll have to do
is to wait until the pollen is ready on the first plant to bloom
(assuming they don't flower simultaneously) then pollinate the second
plant to bloom on the first day of blooming - the day the female
flowers are receptive.

Does this seem likely to work?  What should I use to transfer the
pollen (a Q-tip?) and how long will the pollen be viable after
harvest?  Is there any good guide as to when the pollen is actually
ready?

Off to take a cold shower now.

--
Don Martinson
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
l*@execpc.com<
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