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for sexual production. Good candidates for cross-pollination between different cultivars include African violets, geraniums, marigolds, petunias, and lilies. 7
Seed fertility and viability must also be considered. Some plants may set seeds or spores that have a low germination percentage or are totally sterile. For these reasons, gerbera daisies, Boston ferns, and banana cultivars should be avoided in breeding efforts. Other seeds may be fertile, but dormant and require a length of time in storage or a cold treatment to break dormancy. Many perennial plants exhibit such dormancy. The length of time that seeds retain their viability in storage depends on storage conditions and plant species. Some long-lived seeds include zinnia, petunia, and lotus. Generally, low humidity and cool temperatures extend seed viability.
Steps to Pollination
Hybrid plant production involves the transfer of pollen from one plant to the stigma of a different plant of the same species. This essentially is a 6-step procedure: i
1. Remove anthers from the flower of the female parent prior to pollen maturation to prevent selfpollination.
2. Collect pollen from the male parent.
3. Transfer the pollen to the stigman of the female parent using a fine brush.
4. Tag the flower, indicating the date and the cross made (female x male). j
5. Harvest the mature seed.
6. Plant the seed.
In most instances, don’t expect spectacular performance in flower quality or yield from seeds produced from commercial plant cultivars due to their hybrid origin. However, backyard plant breeding may be worthwhile and rewarding to gardeners who wish to expose inherent genetic variability, observe trait segregation, and grow plants with new combinations of traits.
(Dr. Diane Relf is a horticulture specialist with Virginia Cooperative Extension and is a member of the faculty of Virginia Tech.)
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