Author Topic: Concerning hand pollinating soursop  (Read 4043 times)

Orkine

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #25 on: November 15, 2021, 04:23:52 PM »
Thanks Rob, I have watched the videos that show hand pollinating flowers with their own anthers.  I know for atemoya that this would not work since the flowers are male by the time the petals are open and the anthers dropping.
I was not sure if this was the case with soursop and have tried what I saw as well as saving pollen and applying with a brush to other flowers.

Is your observation from your experience with soursop? 

My last couple used pollen I saved and refrigerated, but I broke off enough of the petals to get good access with my brush.  My next two which should be tonight or tomorrow will be with saved pollen with petals teased apart but not broken. 
I will eventually get this right. 

roblack

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #26 on: November 15, 2021, 10:15:31 PM »
I've tried to pollinate enough guanabana flowers with their own pollen to know that it usually does not work.

I've had success using the method described.

Works great for rollinia too. Also, atemoya and sugar apple, I assume most/all annonas work the same way.

Orkine

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #27 on: November 16, 2021, 03:02:20 AM »
Thank you.
The new attempts are with stored pollen.  Hopefully I will get a couple of takes.

FMfruitforest

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #28 on: November 16, 2021, 05:24:13 AM »
I have one tree that sets fruit well on its own. I have not seen  any nitidulid beetles on the tree or its flowers, I have only seen small ants and some flies on tree and flowers. Im thinking Maybe this tree sets fruit very well because it’s receptive to its own pollen.

CTMIAMI

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #29 on: November 16, 2021, 08:58:28 AM »
I have one tree that sets fruit well on its own. I have not seen  any nitidulid beetles on the tree or its flowers, I have only seen small ants and some flies on tree and flowers. Im thinking Maybe this tree sets fruit very well because it’s receptive to its own pollen.
Is that a seedling or a named cultivar?
Is the tree in full sun?
Carlos
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FMfruitforest

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #30 on: November 16, 2021, 01:44:00 PM »

[/quote]
Is that a seedling or a named cultivar?
Is the tree in full sun?
[/q

Seedling from PIN. It does get the most sun outta the 3 trees flowering.

Guanabanus

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #31 on: November 16, 2021, 03:07:09 PM »
Bull ants are suspected to be pollinators.

Nitidulids are attracted to sweet-fruity-smelling flowers like Sugar-Apple flowers, not to alcohol-chloroform-smelling flowers, such as Soursop.
Har

Orkine

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #32 on: November 16, 2021, 03:45:57 PM »
Har, I saw some ants (I assume bull ants) on the tree.  They were not on an open flower but on a tiny one just forming.
I was considering finding a way of dissuading them from visiting the tree without harming potential pollinators, only to find out they may be pollinators.  I hope they take care of a few flowers, I will be good with a poorly formed fruit or two, than no fruit at all. :)


Orkine

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #33 on: November 16, 2021, 03:48:43 PM »
I have one tree that sets fruit well on its own. I have not seen  any nitidulid beetles on the tree or its flowers, I have only seen small ants and some flies on tree and flowers. Im thinking Maybe this tree sets fruit very well because it’s receptive to its own pollen.
Is that a seedling or a named cultivar?
Is the tree in full sun?
Carlos, is full sun good or bad?
I have one tree in full sun, one is partially shaded and a third is in a pot currently parked in partial shade.

CTMIAMI

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #34 on: November 16, 2021, 06:09:50 PM »
I'm not sure, I'm just beginning to get into annonas. The guy I know who has 5 acres with good production are in full sun. The ones I have SEEN IN SHADES AREAS DONT PRODUCE AS MUCH.
Carlos
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www.myavocadotrees.com
zone 10a Miami-Dade County

roblack

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #35 on: November 16, 2021, 09:59:38 PM »
There's definitely a colony of bull ants hanging out on my Guanabana tree. Maybe I shouldn't have nuked em with DE and slathered the tangle foot wrap with Vaseline to cut them off. While they may pollinate, they also appear to be farming pests, which may be suppressing fruit production.




Guanabanus

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #36 on: November 17, 2021, 09:13:13 PM »
The bull ants will have no reason to be there if the tree is clean.  They eat honey dew from the pests.
Har

roblack

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #37 on: November 26, 2021, 11:07:05 AM »
That is what appears to be happening Har.

Have seen low to decent fruit set with the ants around, and no help from me. If they do pollinate, they're not that great at it.

Much better fruit production and size with hand pollination.

Was checking flowers last night. 2 flowers were open, with an opening just big enough to fit the tip of a chopstick in it. Thinking they were female, I went to pollinate them. A ton of fresh pollen fell out, so instead just decided to collect the fresh pollen. Other flowers were barely opening in the middle, no pollen falling from them, so pollinated them.

My point is there is very little difference in outside appearance between a male and female flower. You probably have one plus day of a receptive female flower, that then turns male and has viable pollen for a day plus. Trying to catch them before the petals fall off, think that is a better strategy.

Found this today:


« Last Edit: November 26, 2021, 11:09:55 AM by roblack »

roblack

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #38 on: December 10, 2021, 06:46:50 PM »
...and this today:



Bigger fruitlet at early stage. Hand pollination appears to be helping with not only fruit set, but hopefully yield as well.

Orkine

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Re: Concerning hand pollinating soursop
« Reply #39 on: July 17, 2022, 09:20:27 PM »
At last, one made it and it was delish.