Citrus > Citrus General Discussion

How to Cross Citrus Varieties - Need Help

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sc4001992:
Ok, I would like to ask you citrus breeder's some questions on the process to create a cross-pollinated fruit. I have a lot of different citrus varieties but have never tried to cross them.

So, a few years back (2022) I grafted the largest citrus I have called the Banpeiyu with the smallest fruiting finger lime rootstock (Australian Green Finger lime). I think that now my grafted Banpeiyu has grown and flowering I want to try the cross pollination.

I see that both the Australian Lime and Banpeiyu have flowers so it should be ready. Can you tell me the best method to cross pollenate these two.

I want the Banpeiyu to hold the fruit (mother) since the scion is from my fruiting tree which has had fruits about 5 lbs each, should be 10 lbs but never seem it that big yet.

Here's some photos, please give me directions on how I go about the cross pollination.
Thanks in advance.

Ilya11:
Something similar has been already done.
link

sc4001992:
Ok, good ref, thank you. I see it has been over 20 years now, do you know if the hybrid grew into a fruiting tree by now?
Who was the original person who tried this?

Since I have many large pomelo trees that are flowering now, I might try the finger lime pollen on all of them and see which ones have successful healthy fruits.

From what I read, it sounds like he did not have a successful cross and the plants are dead or didn't make new fruits to see what it looks like. My cross will fruit so in 10 yrs you can see the shape of this crossed fruits (haha).

Galatians522:
Kaz, I have not done a citrus cross specifically, but typically you want to emasculate the flower in the popcorn stage (where the flower is about to open but isn't open yet) by removing the anthers with a tweezer. Then, bag the flowers and apply the pollen from you chose (male) flower when it starts shedding pollen. You should be able to pick the flowers off your chosen male and use the flower to gently brush pollen on the stigma of your female (the little knob in the middle of the flower). Clipping the stigma from the male flower might make this easier if it sticks out past the pollen shedding anthers. You should probably pollinate multiple times to make sure the female flower was receptive when you applied the pollen. If you have a monoembryonic variety in the cross that should be the female.

sc4001992:
Ok, thanks Sam, I read similar procedure on this forum. I will try it this week and next. Hope it works.

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