Re: [CH] Preventing Cross Pollination + Chile breeding
Bob Batson (bob@sky.net)
Sat, 27 Mar 1999 13:39:34 -0600 (CST)
On Thu, 25 Mar 1999, "Tim" <prez@execs.com> wrote:
> I am growing a large variety of chillies this year.
> The problem is I only have a small growing area
> and I want to prevent cross pollination of varieties
> so that I can keep the seeds for next year.
Since you just want to save enough seeds for next year, you're best
option, IMHO, is the bagging method. Following's what the book _Seed to
Seed_ by Suzanne Ashworth (ISBN 0-9613977-7-2) says about this
technique.
Bagging involves covering the flowering portion of a plant, in
order to isolate those flowers from insect pollinators or
wind-blown pollen. Except for corn, bagging is usually used to
prevent cross-pollination of self-pollinating plants. For
example, a cluster of currant tomato blossoms could be bagged
with spun polyester cloth to prevent any possible insect
crossing. Bagging individual flowers or clusters of blossoms
is especially useful in cases where only a small amount of
seeds is needed and caging methods are not possible.
Spun polyester cloth, often known by the trade name Reemay, is
a popular bagging material as are other lightweight fabrics.
Pieces of Reemay can be tied around individual flower heads or
groups of flowers to prevent insects from entering. Reemay can
also be sewed, heat-sealed or rolled and stapled to make bags
for flowers. Always be certain, however, that the base of the
bag is tightly secured around the stem. In some cases it may
be necessary to wrap a cotton ball or cotton batting tightly
around the flower stem before securing the bag with a twist
tie, in order to prevent insects from crawling into the bag.
Later when the bag is removed, the pods or fruits inside can be
marked with pieces of bright yarn so that only their seeds will
be saved. These bagging techniques don't work for some
extremely fine-grained pollen is small enough to pass through
Reemay and muslin. Such species are identified throughout the
text of this book.
Paper bags are often used, but can become a problem where
summer rains are a prevalent. Treated paper bags are avail;able
from Lawson Bag Co. (PO Box 8577, Northfield, IL 60093; Tel.
708/446-8812). Never use clear plastic bags or glassine
envelopes, which can cause the flower to cook in the hot sun or
become slimy from lack of ventilation. Suitable bagging
techniques are discussed for each of the applicable vegetables
in Section II and Section III.
AND FOR CAPSICUMS
Pepper flowers can also be bagged to prevent crossing. In
the evening identify ready-to-open flowers and place a tiny spun
polyester bag over unopened blossoms. At the same time place a
maker on the flower stem. If a fruit forms, the marker will
identify it for seed saving. The marker and bag will fall off
with the aborted flower if the fruit fails to form. Always bag
blossoms on as many different plants of that variety as
possible and then mix the seeds from those fruits at harvest
time, which will help retain some variation within the
population.
Excerpted from _Seed to Seed_ by Suzanne Ashworth (ISBN 0-9613977-7-2).
Reprinted with the permission of the publishers, The Seed Savers
Exchange (3076 North Winn Road, Decorah, Iowa 52101; tel. 319-382-5990,
FAX 319-382-5872).
[PERSONAL NOTE!! I would use finely-woven muslin for bagging instead
of Reemay or any other type of `floating-row' material. Reemay
will raise the temperature of the enclosed flower(s) a few degrees
and I'm afraid the flower blossom would abort. This might not
happen, but I `believe better safe than sorry'.
As for pepper breeding, I suggest you first read (study) the book _Breed
Your Own Vegetable Varieties: Popbeans, Purple Peas, and Other
Innovations from the Backyard Garden_ by Carol Deppe (ISBN 0-316-18104-8)
and then obtain (& read) _Breeding Vegetable Crops_ by Mark J. Bassett,
editor. The latter book has a separate chapter on just peppers (Capsicum
spp.).
====================================================================
Bob Batson L 39 12 14 N 94 33 16 W
bob@sky.net Kansas City
TCS - Mystic Fire Priest USDA zone 5b
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Under the most controlled conditions, the experimental apparatus will
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