Re: CAN ANYONE PLANT *NOW*?
Ah, man, along with all the other gardening tools, now I have to go out and
buy a 10 foot pole.
The only way to assure that a seed from a Mosaic Virus-infected pumpkin
won't pass it on is to destroy the seed. It is the only responsible thing
to do, as well.
I wouldn't go near your seeds. I hope nobody else does, either.
Paul Thompson
Armada, Michigan
At 08:28 PM 03/02/2000 EST, you wrote:
>OK, FINALLY.....after a lot of my own testing and tons of other things I
>have went through with my seeds, they are finally ready for some people out
>there to grow them.
>As you may remember, I had some CMV problems last year, and we went through
>the debate of whether it could be transmitted to the next gen via seed.
>There was some argument on this, but after consulting Dr. Eddleman, and a
>few other experts off of the list, local county extension service, and a LOT
>of others who have planted seeds from virus infected plants with no carry
>over, the concensus seemed to be that it was not likely, it would be a rare
>instance where this would happen. More likely the strains lack of resistance
>to the virus would be carried over (if the father also was suceptable)
>rather than the virus itself. I know Barb and a couple of others had really
>strong feelings about this (to say the least) and I got bashed about this
>when I was trying to talk scientifically about the whole situation, but as I
>said I have went through A LOT about this with several other experts. Some
>of you asked before WHY I didn't just dispose of the seeds and start again
>the next year. Well, one reason is the individual genetic makeup. You may
>think since there was a CMV problem that it automatically means a lack of
>resistance, but actually this is not really true, actually more of the
>opposite, (it would take a few dozen emails to explain). The genetics are
>some of the best that exist in any seed today. (Technically, and
>theoretically, anyway).
>The seeds are 780 Eaton x 780 Mombert.
>If you do extensive research on this, and genetic patterns, and a few dozen
>other things on these strains, you will see why this cross is extremely
>superior to most other seeds out there. My main cross didn't work as well,
>which would have been the first semi-F1 "hybrid" A.G., because I was
>crossing two of the top "purified" strains to combine complimentary
>characteristics of each, (yep, the 567.5 strain, selfed, with each
>successive gen getting better, with the 946.5 Geerts, also selfed). This of
>course would produce me a bit of a weak plant and fruit, but superior hybrid
>seed. Well the plants were surprisingly strong and vigorous (I grew several
>of each strain and picked the two best of each for the actual cross), but
>they got the CMV eventually, and were also planted late. The seeds from them
>seem to be empty and probably not viable. However my 780 x 780 strain seeds
>are very good and should be a VERY superior strain. (To say the least)!
>I have seeds from the cross both ways. The 780 Eaton did get CMV eventually,
>but the 780 Mombert was the only plant I had that NEVER had any signs of the
>disease whatsoever, it was 100% clean. I did a leaf crush/pickling cucumber
>test to verify it did not have any signs of the disease whatsover, while the
>Eaton (used as a control) tested positive.
>Now for the seeds....to put everyone's fear of the virus presence in the
>seeds at ease, I did crush tests with the SEEDS. If there were any viruses
>present in the seed material, it should have tested positive, ALL of the
>seeds tested (4 seeds crused and mixed from each strain) tested NEGATIVE for
>virus.
>Now....FINALLY....it took way longer than I expected. I really wanted to get
>all of this done and have seeds ready for growing for Austrailia and the
>southern hemisphere over our winter to see how they perform. Then I figured
>maybe in time for someone in tropical climates to grow. That is mainly who I
>am looking for now.
>If anyone can plant NOW, and want to try out my seeds, please let me know.
>This will give some extra time to see how they perform before the northern
>growing season starts. (2 months or so before May 1).
>Now as one extra measure, even though all seeds tested NEGATIVE for virus, I
>am ONLY offering seeds from the 780 Mombert plant which was completely clean
>of the virus when growing. I never got to weigh any of the pumpkins
>officially, but the 780 Mombert (x 780 Eaton) was estimated at about 300.
>The low weight was because of the late planting, mainly,and really shouldn't
>be factored much into the seeds genetics.
>So if anyone wants to try these out, AND can plant right away, please let me
>know as soon as possible and I can get some of the seeds out to you right
>away. The genetic potential for these (780 Mombert x 780 Eaton) is EXTREMELY
>good, (as if I even need to say that), so if you are willing to test them
>out for the rest of us northern growers, please let me know.
>Please email me here, or at SteveS012@aol.com
>AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! Thanks!
>
>
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