RE: [CH] cross-pollination
Parkhurst, Scott Contractor (PARKHURS@LEAVENWORTH.ARMY.MIL)
Wed, 23 Feb 2000 20:10:44 -0000
> I am still waiting to hear from anyone in the group if cross
> pollination is possible with Bells and Habaneros. I too
> would love to have Bell Peppers with scorching heat.
Bells are C. annuum, habs are C. chinense, but sure, they
can cross polinate, in theory. In actual practice is another
matter entirely.
Bells grow faster than habs, and they don't blossom at
exactly the same time (my experience), so pollen from habs
isn't available when the bells (or other C. annuum) are
setting fruit. This is only a minor inconvenience, though.
The tough part is getting the fruit to set while insuring that
no *other* pollen has messed up the cross. You may have
to wait for the fruit to ripen and the seeds are mature, since
the fruit of the cross does not display the results of the
cross, according to many published authors/"experts" (some
on the list have experienced "instant" crossing, so that topic
is up for debate).
Either way, you have to hope you get a cross that has all
the desired traits (heat, flavor, size), and none of the un-
wanted traits (still no heat, bad/off flavor, lessened disease
resistance, etc...).
Oh, you have to hope it isn't a sterile hybrid. And that the
cross continues through successive generations. Then if
you are really serious, you wade through the red-tape,
apply for PVP status, try to market your new variety and
join the Garcias of Red Savina fame.
Scott... sorry if this got a little long... KCK