Manual pollination tips

[sanguinho]

Hello,

I would like to start making my own hybrids, but there are a lot of things I don't know. In this section there is a lot of information about genetics, but I think there is little information about the pollination process. I suppose that with the knowledge that you have it may seem trivial, but for beginners your advice would be helpful.

Doubts I have

When is a flower ready to collect its pollen?
How do I prevent the pollen-receiving flower from self-fertilising in self-fertile varieties?
How to collect and apply pollen?

On pollen conservation there is this thread which I found interesting.

Pollen exchange

[sanguinho]

[ash]

I don't claim to know much but I'll share my experience.

I collected pollen using a bit of wool. The wool was white but soon turned yellow from pollen. So collecting pollen isn't difficult.

I believe that the pollen is ready as soon as the flower is open. At least I got pollen from flowers as soon as they were opened and it wouldn't make sense to open before the pollen is ready.

And as for you question "How do I prevent the pollen-receiving flower from self-fertilising in self-fertile varieties?"
If you are asking if a plant will pollinate itself without bugs helping.
I don't think it works like that the pollen is still a few centimeters away from where it needs to go to pollinate the plant and it needs something to carry it there. Citrus doesn't do wind pollination and if your breeding then I assume you will be using a bug net or keeping the plant indoors.
I think if you are careful and don't shake the plant hard enough to send pollen flying into the air then the risk is very very low.
You could test this by not pollinating a flower. I'm willing to bet that that flower will not give any fruit


But I have not done breeding myself so I am interested to hear other people's opinions and interested to know if anyone disagrees with me.

[ash]

Ok they go to extreme lengths to prevent self pollution in the video. But a citrus flower is a lot smaller that the Christmas catus flowers in the video. I think it would be extremely difficult to do on such a small flower without snapping it off.

Also I think it's at less risk due to the pollen being further from the female part of the flower.


Another option would be to pollinate as soon as the flower opened and then cover the female part with clingfilm.... But that seems a bit extreme to me..

[sanguinho]

You are right Ash, if air it's not enough to pollinate and a bug it's needed,a bag protecting flowers will be sufficent.

That is the kind of knowledge that I'm looking for, I know that chiles and tomatoes are self-fertile and don't need bugs, asiminas use flies not bees,but I didn't know how citrus work or if it applies to all citrus.

Thanks for your tips.

[kumin]

Citrus flowers are receptive to pollen when the pistol has attained full size and there's a thin layer of liquid secretion on the pistol tip surface. Some breeders will apply pollen a bit sooner, giving the pollen more time to release the contents and the two sperm begin growing through the pistol tubes to the ovules. Pollination at this early stage requires opening the petals before natural opening.The best time to emasculate anthers is before anther dehiscence, requiring opening the petals in many cases. Some types of flowers self pollinate due to anther dehiscence during the time the flower opens, allowing contact between receptive pistols and dehiscent anthers.

[Sylvain]

Pomelos are auto-pollinated before the flower opens, hence you can use the pollen as male parent (like it naturally does) or castrate long before the flower opens to use the flower as seed parent.

[ash]

Mar 25, 2021 14:46:13 GMT -5 ash said:

I don't think it works like that the pollen is still a few centimeters away from where it needs to go to pollinate the plant and it needs something to carry it there.

I just had a look at some of my plants that are flowering and while on some the male and female parts are quite far from each other. On other flowers they are touching so maybe they wouldn't need a bug to pollinate if they were self fertile.

[kumin]

Mar 25, 2021 19:40:02 GMT -5 kumin said:

Citrus flowers are receptive to pollen when the pistol has attained full size and there's a thin layer of liquid secretion on the pistol tip surface. Some breeders will apply pollen a bit sooner, giving the pollen more time to release the contents and the two sperm begin growing through the pistol tubes to the ovules. Pollination at this early stage requires opening the petals before natural opening.The best time to emasculate anthers is before anther dehiscence, requiring opening the petals in many cases. Some types of flowers self pollinate due to anther dehiscence during the time the flower opens, allowing contact between receptive pistols and dehiscent anthers.