Re: [CH] More thoughts on C. pubescens fruit setting
Brent Thompson (brent@hplbct.hpl.hp.com)
Mon, 24 Aug 1998 13:30:20 -0700
> Hypotheses: The insect vectors which pollinate these plants successfully in
> S. America and Mexico are missing in Dublin OH. Some aspect of the life
> cycle of the hornets prevents pollination until later in the Summer. Do
> their feeding habits change? Or perhaps do only the newly adult hornets
> seek nectar? Do the "green flies" only hatch out at this time of year?
I have never ever seen hornets around my rocoto plants, nor any small green
flies. I believe ants are the main pollenization vector for my rocotos
(though I personally, manually, account for a significant number of them).
In general, ants are very very bad for plants -- nearly every insect pest
infestation at my place is caused by ants. But it would seem ants are not
entirely devoid of merit.
> And why doesn't the paint brush work? I try to do "it" carefully aided by a
> 10x magnifying glass, but maybe I don't have the touch. Maybe it takes a
> fuzzy little insect to implant the pollen grains.
I fervently believe hand pollination of rocoto flowers works great for me
(though brush could still be the problem -- I only use naked fingers for
this task).
This problem of fruits setting in some seasons and not in others is still
mysterious to me, and is troublesome in other species as well (e.g. I have
several Psidium guineense plants which flower profusely but unfruitfully at
least a month before presto! all of a sudden nearly all flowers begin
setting).
--- Brent