Re: CULT/HYB: pollen & crosses

> Another question for everybody/anybody - there seems to be no pollen
> formed on any of my DUSKY CHALLENGER

>Others on the list say they get pollen - is this another
> effect of roller coaster freezes while the flower buds are still in the
> rhizome?  On the other hand, someone on the list this spring bemoaned
> the fact that CRYSTAL GLITTERS never produces viable pollen for them,
> yet I had lots of pollen and even got some crosses to take. 
> Any theories out there about what might cause these regional or garden
> to garden variations among cultivars in pollen production? 
> Linda Mann east Tennessee USA

Linda,  In my now "vast" experience of 15 yrs of breeding irises and in
making crosses in several geographical locations, it varies with lots of
varieties as to how much pollen is produced and in what quantities.  DUSKY
CHALLENGER sometimes produced pollen for me in southern TN, more likely in
Mass, but I have made crosses with it both ways.  Humidity has a lot to do
with it, as does air temperature.  Sometimes it even matters with the
amount of shade that is nearby.  Another iris that is very similar is
SUMMER OLYMPICS:  rarely producing pollen but when it does, it is very
viable.  SO is a wodnerful pod parent and has been way under utilized in
the reblooming world.  It is not the most gorgeous thing itself, but it has
all those wonderful genes in it from the good stuff that Raymond had been
using and will throw a higher than average percentage of good seedlings
when used with wonderful parents!  One really does have to use the very
most modern stuff or yuou get loads of dogs.  And who needs any more of
those.

When I was editor of the Region 7 Irisarian, I asked about 20 hybridizers
to write articles for me and tell me what their best parents were and what
theory they used in breeding.  It was very interesting reading, well still
is.  I have copies of all the articles on disk.  On breeder said he would
buy 5 of the best irises he could afford that grew for him and intercross
them in every way possible and then start intercrossing their offspring,
thereby creating a totally new generation of things that grew for him
locally.  Then there are other factors to start considering:  outcrossing
for continued vigor across the country, etc. etc.  etc.     We've all been
there many times in the last year.

Have a wonderful and Happy New Year and start comtemplating those iris
crosses for bloom season!


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Gary D. Sides   Nashville, TN  USDA 6/7   gdsides@ccast.com
TB Iris Rebloom is Up and Coming!   Got any?  Want some?
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