re: pollen viability
- To: i*@Rt66.com
- Subject: re: pollen viability
- From: t*@Lanl.GOV (Tom Tadfor Little)
- Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 10:57:59 -0700
Linda writes
: in the world of iris, it says most common failures are from immature or
:nonviable pollen, unreceptive stigmas, or 'unfavorable weather'.
:
:everybody - does anybody know what the book means by unfavorable weather?
Probably rain, wind, hailstorms...
:
:also, it says the stigma is most receptive 3 or 4 hrs after blossom
:'opening'. what does that mean? after it is fully expanded? or after it
:first starts trying to unfold? i bet i am waiting too long.
I expect that varies so much with local temperature, humidity, etc.
that it can't be tied down that closely.
I had a lot better luck with crosses in Las Cruces (southern New Mexico)
than I do now in Los Alamos (northern New Mexico). Rain is a frequent
problem here during iris season, and sometimes I think the temperature
is just too low. Of course, I'm also making "weirder" crosses these
days, so perhaps that explains the difference.
I've been attempting to keep records of the conditions under which
I make pollinations, to see what might affect the percentage of takes.
No conclusions yet, though.
I'd love to hear from other list members about specific conditions
(temp, time of day, etc.) that seem to affect pollination success.
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Tom Tadfor Little tlittle@lanl.gov -or- telp@Rt66.com
technical writer/editor Los Alamos National Laboratory
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Telperion Productions http://www.rt66.com/~telp/
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