August 1, 1999, ca. 11 P.M.
- 20-30 indehiscent male flowers were removed from the spadix.
- Flowers were dissected under a dissecting scope.
- Where possible, flowers (anthers) were sectioned longitudinally through the unopened pores at the flower (anther) apex using an exacto knife.
- Pollen was removed using a dissecting probe.
August 2, 1999, 12:15 A.M.
- The extracted pollen was applied to the stigmas, which were tacky to the touch, using the dissecting probe. None of these fruits formed seed.
- Another 50 or so indehiscent male flowers were harvested.
August 2, 1999, ca. 2:00 A.M.
- Harvested male flowers were placed in two open film canisters within a plastic bag with about a dozen very ripe apples to accelerate maturation by ethylene exposure.
- The bag was set atop a gas range where heat from the pilot light maintained the temperature at about (84) 86 (90) degrees F and humidity at about 65%.
August 2, 1999, ca. 11:00 A.M.
- Ethylene treatment failed to induce pollen dehiscence, therefore it was removed by dissection as before.
- Freshly extracted pollen was used to pollinate at about 12 noon using the dissecting probe as before.
- Another batch of freshly extracted pollen was used to pollinate at about 2:15 p.m. By this time pollen had dried sufficiently and/or ambient conditions prevented pollen from adhering to probe. A camel hair brush was used instead. Seeds formed in some of the fruits from these pollinations.
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