HYB: Seed Developement

 Francelle,  

I believe somewhere among my bulletins, and other iris-talk articles I read was an article that explains seed developement.  I will try and find it for you.

From what I remember, each pollen grain is responsible for creating one seed in the ovary of the iris.  When the pollen is applied to the stigmatic lip, it opens up and sends its genetic material down to the ovary like a seed sends roots down into the soil.  Some of the genetic material in the pollen grain is responsible for the developement of the outside of the seed, and some is responsible for the inner part of the seed.   

Occasionally, the distance between the pollen grain and the ovary for the "root" of genetic material to travel is far longer than it can reach, therefore no pollination occurs.   

Some of the time, only the material that is responsible for the outside of the seed to develop makes it, and the part the develops the inside of the seed does not.  When this happens, what gets produced could appear as immature seeds.    

Perhaps someone else can remember reading the same article and could shed a more scientific explaination than the simple one I just related.   

Patrick Orr
Phoenix, AZ  Zone 9
116 degrees today!~
----- Original Message -----
From: MARVIN EDWARDS
Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2001 5:49 PM
To: iris-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [iris-talk] HYB:2001 Seed
  
Betty, your experience has been the same as mine this year.  I had more pods than ever.  They seem to ripen about three weeks earlier than before.  I harvest them when they split and they seem to be filled with very small, immature seeds.  Fortunately not all are like that, but perhaps about half.  I attributed it to our early, hot summer.  A few pods are still on the plants, so I am hoping for better seeds from those.
Francelle Edwards,  113 F. yesterday and probably today  Glendale, AZ
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: storylade@aol.com
  To: iris-talk@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2001 6:36 PM
  Subject: [iris-talk] HYB:2001 Seed


  Iris pods seem to mature earlier each year.  My bloom season is running about
  a week earlier than when I lived in Alvaton (12 miles south).  But my pods
  are maturing three weeks to a month earlier . . . last year and this year.

  I began harvesting pods today.  They were cracking.  One of the most
  anxiously awaited pods produced only 17 mature seed with several dozen
  immature/aborted seed.  A few were half grown but most were no bigger than a
  kitten's baby tooth.  In hindsight, does anyone think I could have done
  something to assure more mature seed?  We've had plenty of water this spring
  so that shouldn't have been a problem.  How about fertilizer?  I didn't add
  anything after pod set this year.

  Anyone?

  Betty / Bowling Green KY USA  Zone 6
  Only those who dare to dream can make a dream come true.

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