I posted a question in another forum and got some great answers, but I wanted to post it here too, maybe you can all tell me more about cross pollination.
Since 2 years I am all over fruit and nut trees, and I am trying babiesteps at viburnums too.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/700221/
Any answers would be greatly appreciated; the subject is amazingly new and fascinating to me!
Thank you,
Christie
Great photo Christie.
Thanks Equi! I am so happy to see them again, for the longest time I was afraid they weren't coming this year!
Nice wings. I never have been able to figure out how to photograph anything that is white. One of these days.
Dopn't know the answer to your question, but just wante d to say what beautiful pics here and on the other thread. Next time Dave's holds one of them contests, you should enter yours.
Hi Christie,
This is a complex issue, which requires a lot of in depth knowledge that is not readly available or even known sometimes. I'll take a swing at this and hope that others can correct and/or complete what I offer.
Three things are required for pollination between two plants. The first is easy. Flowers must happen at the same time and pollen must be vectored from one flower to another. Given that, the other two issues are:
1) Flowers must be fertile. This is the norm. This is the way nature intended, and almost 100% of the time flowers are indeed normal and perform as expected. In the realm of ornamental plants, however, sometimes they aren't, particularly in regards to what are often called "double" flowers. This is a freakishly rare occurance, which usually happens because normally sexual flower parts, such as stamens, are not produced in the flower. In their stead are an extra set (or sets) of non-sexual petals. Extra petals often mean a uniquely beautiful flower, so trees with this feature are often selected and sold as "ornamentals.," Also, many, if not most, normal, fertile flowers drop their petals and start developing into fruits almost immediately following pollination. Infertile double flowers, since they are never pollinated, often remain fresh and on the plant much longer and consequently give the gardener a longer bloom time. Again, a reason for selection and cultivation in the ornamental trade. Cherries, plums, peaches, almonds (all genus Prunus and closely related) are the fruit trees most given to having double flowers, although I recall hearign about double crabapples too. This is a bit over my head, so I hope I've explained this aspect reasonably well, and I hope there is some truth to what I've said. To complicate things a bit, I don't believe that every double-flowered plant is necessarily infertile. Just many of them.
2) In order for two plants to cross pollinate each other, they must be closely related. This is really complex, and all I can hope to do is throw some ideas out. I don't feel very qualified on this topic. Usually, two cultivars or two seedlings from within the same species, let's say Prunus persica (peach), if they bloom at the same time, will pollinate each other. But sometimes two closely related species will too, such as Prunus persica (peach) and Prunus dulcis (almond). Apples (the genus Malus) seemingly all pollinate each other provided only that they flower at the same time. They are easy to the point that the domestic apple now cannot even be attributed to a naturally occurring species--its genetic heritage has become so complex. And, usually, any old crabapple will pollinate any old domestic apple.
Now, what makes two species or two cultivars closely related enough to pollinate each other? Way out of my league here, but... Sometimes I think there are physical mechanisms that prevent pollen that isn't exactly right from successfully completing pollination. Also, differing chromosome counts is an issue. You'll hear people refer to tetraploids or diploids, which refers to the numbers of chromosomes a plant carries. The numbers must be equal for pollination to happen. This is most often talked about with plants such as Iris or daylilies, things that have been highly bred, but it could apply to fruits, which are highly bred, too. I don't know.
Now, I'll step back and hopefully someone with more background on this will clean up the mess I've created! In the meantime, here is a picture from last year of a double Prunus of some type. I'm guessing an almond, but I really don't know.
Scott
(The sound of thundering deafening applause from the vicinity of Rupp Arena, the true home of hoops)
...and none due to an actual basketball game. Well done, Scott. You've captured the crux.
Just don't forget octoploidy.
Equil, if you are using a digital just try the beach setting as most have that. That should help keep those whites, white. If using a manual, open up the f stop 1-2.5 stops (or slow down the exposure 1-2 settings if you are trying to control your depth o field) depending on how white and how much texture there is on the subject.
I agree, nice picks
Since you said the magic V words, you know who will appear to give a complete answer on compatible species for cross pollination. I dare you to look in the mirror and say Viburnum Valley 3 times.
Willis
Edited to say that Scott can type a treatise in the time it takes me to hunt and peck left-handed while juggling a baby.
This message was edited Mar 12, 2007 8:16 PM
Wauw, Scott, all totally new to me; thank you so much! I loved the sexlife of plants!!!!!!
Viburrrrrnummmm.... Viiiiiibbbuuurrrnummm.... VIBURNUM!
you all make it understandable for a novice micro-orchardist! Thank you ever so much!
Christie
willis, on my dial I think I have the following images:
a video camera
the word off
the word auto (this is what I use almost all the time)
an eye with an eyebrow (I think)
a jogger but maybe it's a person skiing (I think)
a head and shoulder with an x to the right of the image
mountains
flower (this is for close ups and I use it every once in a while)
the word pas
It's a Kodak DX6440. I haven't a clue where the f stops are on this camera although I recall they are on the camera somewhere. There is a menu but the display is too small for me to see.
Which one do you think is the beach setting?
Christie,
You're certainly welcome. It was fun to revisit that topic, which isn't something I've thought about much recently.
Willis,
Writing treatises doesn't compare with holding a baby! Cherish the time while you can. My boys are both in college now and they absolutely will not let me hold them anymore LOL. They grew up so fast! Perhaps soon, but not too soon, I'll have grandkids to hold. I'll gladly hunt and peck one-handed to do so.
Scott
You got me there Equil. It looks like on your camera the only way to do it is by using the exposure compensation feature which you can get instructions to using from your user's guide. Here is the link where you can download your guide if you lost your old one. Sorry it took so long to get back to you but my laptop went on the spitz and still hasn't been put back together. Rereading the thread, it looks like my reading comprehension and wit were also on the spitz.
http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/products/ekn027036.jhtml?pq-path=1115
Willis
When I get rich I am going to buy you a new computer Willis. Or you need to stay off those high risk sites. LOL
No need Sofer. Spend that moo-la on another Parrotia. My father in law worked for IBM for his entire career so he takes care of our computer needs.
Regarding those high risk sites; Daves is not the only site I frequent. I am a man of various hobbies. Sorta like a modern day renaissance man if you will.
Tootles
Thanks for trying willis. Sorry about your laptop. I guess I'm going to start a camera collection. I've got the Kodaks and that Power Shot S2 IS that I never could figure out how to use so I'm going to buy another one sometime before summer hits. I looked at the Nikon D80. In reviewing the comments, it has a fully automatic mode with the availability of micro lenses. Big plus being there are a few people in the camera department who have D70's and one who wants to buy the D80 so they know how to use the camera and they're local. I'll pass the other two cameras down to a kid. Let them figure that Canon out.
Equi, that's an excellent choice! I have the D50, and they don't make those anymore, so if I had to make a choice today, it would be the D80 too. Great cameras!
And about passing stuff on to the kids; I just passed my ipod on to Mattie and bought myself the one with video, so I can have my wedding video with me where ever I go!
Christie
There's that jewel in the desert yard of yours! Do you know how to work the Nikons?
I got a free class with the camera that told me how to use all the buttons, so that I understand now. But I use the automatic setting, don't know about photography. It wasn't too hard at all, Nikon is very user friendly.
Thanks for the complement!! Had to replace 2 trees yesterday; one new peach never made it out of dormancy, and my sweet little apricot, 2 years old, was in full bloom to weeks ago, and suddenly started browning, loosing buds, and before I knew it it was dead.
So, let's hope these will take off good!
Christie
