Re: HYB: seed counts per pod

> I think that to get a really good sample from a cross one would need to
make
> quite a few pollenizations, get as large a seed number as possible, do
> everything possible to encourage germination and bloom a whole lot of
> siblings.

That would be my theory.  I think it's not going to be a workable situation
making the kind of crosses I work at making.  I have a strong tendency to
attempt a quarterbred aril (OGB-, OB- or RB-) with a halfbred aril (OGB, OB
or RB) pollen parent.  They will set seeds on occasion, but the nature of
the chromosome makeup is that they don't do it readily.  Germination also
tends to be lower.  I make a lot of TB X AB crosses in order to have
potential pod parents to work with.  It will take a lot of time to determine
those that will even set viable seeds and that ability to furnish seeds is
more important than how they look and grow for the time being.  Due to their
reluctance to set seeds, I have often wondered if any quarterbred type has
ever been fully explored for the inherent possibilities they may contain.

Donald Eaves
donald@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7b, USA

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