Re: AG Pollen Storage

I'M INTRIGUED WITH THIS IDEA THAT BRAD SHARES WITH HAROLD.  WHEN I 
POLLINATE I TRY TO ACHEIVE COMPLETE POLLINATION BY USING 3 OR 4 
FLOWERS, BUT THE IDEA THAT MORE COMPLETE POLLINATION CAN BE HAD BY 
FIRST COOLING THE POLLEN, NOW THAT IS VERY INTERESTING (IS THAT THE 
IDEA BEHIND THIS?)   

I DO WONDER A BIT, THOUGH, ABOUT THE 700 VS. 400 SEEDS.  I'M ONE OF 
THOSE WHO HAD 300-400 SEEDS BUT I DID REMARK THAT I ONLY HAD A 
HANDFUL OF THOSE WHITE, HOLLOW SEEDS.  I THOUGHT THAT MEANT THAT I 
HAD ALMOST COMPLETE POLLINATION OF ALL POSSIBLE SEEDS.  CAN ANYONE 
HELP ME OUT ON THIS?  IF THIS IS THE CASE (THAT MY BOBIER 779 WAS 
ONLY CAPABLE OF EVER HAVING 350 SEEDS), IS THE NUMBER OF SEEDS THAT A 
PUMPKIN PRODUCES SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT IN MAKING OUR SEED 
SELECTION?  DID THE 1092, OR THE 567 OR 946, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE A 
LARGER NUMBER OF SEEDS THAN AVERAGE?
Harold,
             This is just one of my crazy ideas.  Let me share with you what 
I was told by Lincoln Mettler.  He collects  pollen from several male flowers 
at a time and places them in capsule and stores them in the refrigerator for 
a few days until it tis time to pollinate.  He believes this provides more 
complete pollination.  He has the evidence to prove it.  His 865 and his 974 
both produced well over 700 seeds per pumpkin.  As I understand it the normal 
average is approx. 400 per pumpkin.  I do know he has experimented with long 
term storage of pumpkin pollen with some success.  I would be glad to put you 
in touch with him if it will help your research.

Just let me know

Brad Walters

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