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hardy  Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL> Aroids)" <ARISAEMA-L at NIC.SURFNET.NL>
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From: Bonaventure W Magrys <magrysbo at SHU.EDU>
Subject: Re: More blooms, and pollen collection.
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Adam,
Actually transferring to a microtube is easier with dry pollen if you wai=t
for the inflorescence to fade (another good reason for using a long thin
plastic dropper while its still fresh). Just pick it off and most of the
pollen will have collected at the bottom of the spathe. Sometimes I just
excise the spadix and stick it into a female Arisaema (or Arum) bloom jus=t
barely opening if this brief opportunity exists. More pollen will shed of=f
onto the stigmas its spadix.
The dry pollen in a tightly capped microtube stays that way and does not
become moldy for months in a regular refridgerator. Don't know about
viability.
I only got seed set from fresh crosses, but I also blame that on bad
weather/weakened plants as much as on the state of the pollen or divergen=t
genetics.
Well, I'll know more this year after more experiments........
Bonaventure

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
OK,Bonaventure.  Thanks.  I gather that by irrigating and using a long
dropper.  one is able to do this without destroying the entire
inflorescence, which would be harder otherwise.  I think that I will also
check on how picking the pollen up on a camel's hair brush works.   There='s
still the problem of transferring it to the microcentrifuge tube, and the
liquid would perhaps be easier.

I would guess that refrigerating it, without dessicating it and freezing =it
would lead to rot in a matter of a week or so. Has anyone tried keeping i=t
for a year?