Cherimoya pollination

[Tonyz]

Hi, first year I am trying to hand pollinate cherimoya, but I am finding out that the males have alot of anters but no pollen, why is that?

[Pau]

Try using black paper or background to see the pollen. If no pollen then first year of flowering might be reason. You can graft other varieties to get pollen if it is a variety issue.

[Jack, Nipomo]

Beginning flowers here.  I'd use a much smaller softer brush.  I collect the anthers in a small container in the AM and evening.  I pollinate when the petals open up mid day and simply use the anthers on the brush to pollinate as they contain the pollen.  If a flower has not opened yet completely, I still put the anthers on the stigma.  I pull one petal off each flower pollinated as an indication of my efforts.  I do use anthers from any other cherimoya.

[Oolie]

If you grab the anthers too early, the pollen may not have had time to dehisce.
If you catch the stigma at a time where it is sticky just leaving the anthers in contact is sometimes enough, as the anthers will release the pollen in time.

If there is no pollen present on the stigma it is possible you got there too late after an insect had harvested the pollen. I've seen it where bees will beat you to the pollen. Not with cherimoya though.

[Plantinyum]

After the pollen is ready the flower sheds it very fast, in a few hours its gone. The anthers usually continue to stay up untill the wilt of the petals, then they fall off together. Thats my experience.

[Tonyz]

Thanks to you all for your help,,,one guy said use softer brush which I am now, I asked because whenever I saw photos I saw pollen as dust, and I am not getting any dust,,,,, what about the heat? sometimes july august it can go over 40degcelcius sometimes with heatwaves..... also interested to know about any fertilizer you suggest that can improve this tree.

[Oolie]

They usually do OK with little to no fertilizer. Maybe some potassium to cope with drought stress.

40 is a bit warm. If it starts to defoliate, you might consider trying atemoya.

[Tonyz]

After the pollen is ready the flower sheds it very fast, in a few hours its gone. The anthers usually continue to stay up untill the wilt of the petals, then they fall off together. Thats my experience.

Thanks