Re: [CH] More thoughts on C. pubescens fruit setting
Peter Moss (pmoss@yoda.alt.za)
Tue, 25 Aug 1998 22:41:02 RSA-2
Just some thoughts and I am way out on a limb here so shoot
anything down in flames.
Cameron have you noted the day-night temperature differences?
80-55 deg F is indicated as ideal by P. Bosland. Peppers of the
World.
>> 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.
If they are going to drop I don't believe pollinated or not is
going to make any difference.
> 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).
Small brush, Qtip, fingers, insects or any other means should
not make any difference if the pollen grains are transferred.
Possibly self incompatibility plays some part in no fruit set
but if the insects (bees) are busy manual pollination is most
likely a waste of time.
My three plants are full of flowers at the moment but
unfortunately they will have to be transplanted in my move to
another house. Time will tell how they recover and I'll report
on any fruit set.
> 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).
Many plants exhibit such characteristics see hops which has a
narrow latitude band in which it can be grown.
Anyone with any experience of second or third generation plants
becoming aclimitised to local conditions?
--
Peter