Re: HYB: help!
- Subject: Re: HYB: help!
- From: L* M*
- Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2002 10:36:55 -0500
Kelly, welcome to the wonderful frustrating world of hybridizing. There
is a ton of information in the archives about hybridizing
<http://www.hort.net/lists//iris-talk>. From all the things posted here
over the years, plus my own spectacular failures, I've learned when I'm
most likely to have success.
Some of the possible contributing factors in your lack of success might
include
--low viability of pod or pollen parent, either due to weather during or
preceeding that bloom season or due to genetics. I've found that late
freezes here as the little embryonic stalk is trying to form inside the
rhizome in late March can zap anther & pollen formation. Sometimes
pollen looks ok to the naked eye, but is clumpy & not viable.
--trying to make crosses when the humidity is too low or when pollen is
damp.
--trying to make crosses at the wrong moment in the life of the bloom.
Just exactly when the 'right moment' is still eludes me. I think most
experienced hybridizers say just after the bloom first opens, but I'm
not sure. 'They' say to pollinate when the stigmatic lip is moist and
shiny. One thing for sure, when it's ready, the pollen sticks to it. I
dab pollen on all day long, just to be sure.
--not much info on the subject, but I suspect lack of trace nutrients
affect successful development of viable zygotes and embryos. I'm in a
boron deficient area & boron deficiency has a big effect on development
of seeds in corn & soybeans, so I'm suspicious that may be affecting my
irises as well. Not much I can do about it tho, without a clue as to
what levels might be sufficient & such itty bitty amounts needed for
sufficiency.
If there is any chance of going to watch another hybridizer in action
who has a high success rate in setting pods, I recommend it.
I think I have figured out how to do crosses with the highest rate of
success possible for my growing conditions. Year before last, I did
fairly well. Last year was nearly a total bust, but at least from what
I had learned, I was pretty sure most of the pollen I had was worthless.
Just wait till you get some seeds and start not having anything
germinate. Auggghhh!
Linda Mann east Tennessee USA zone 7/8
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