MIRLITON.ORG

MIRLITON.ORG

Mirliton Site Visits Nov 22 09, controlled pollination (chayote, “Sechium edule”)

Controlled pollination to obtain "true-to-type" seed mirlitons. Here I used the bagging method.g Female flower opens in bag and is ready to pollinate. Once hand pollinated, wait until blossom drops off before taking off bag. I used plastic here but a translucent row-cover material would work better--allow for air circulation.. Bag one female and a cluster of males (on the same plant) before they open, then once they open, hand pollinate from male to female on same plant. The resulting fruit is an exact genetic copy of mother plant. CAUTION: The plastic bag did not work well--too much heat and humidity. Sister Morgan Mirliton Variety 17 ounces Info Sister Morgan Mirliton Variety 17 ounces Wrap the vine and flower with translucent row cover material or transparent pva film like dio-betalon, which allows for good air circulation but prevents insect pollination, and seal the ends with twist-its. Wisconsin Supplies sells a ten-pack of 4x6 pollination bags on-line. Female flower opens in bag and is ready to pollinate. Once hand pollinated, wait until blossom drops off before taking off bag. I used plastic here but a translucent row-cover material pollination bags would work better--allow for air circulation. See previous photo caption. For instructions on how to hand pollinate flowers, see album here titled "Hand Pollinating Mirlitons." Cluster of male flowers bagged and waiting to open. Ishreal Thibodeaux Mirliton variety, Eunice, Louisiana Sister Morgan mirliton variety, 17 ounces. Fred Fournet mirliton variety, Lafayette, Louisiana, Unusual shape for Louisiana. A botany professor lived down the street and brought many varieties back from central America, and this might have been the origins of this variety. Andre Dore mirliton variety, probably from Fred Fournet.13 ounces. Several Andre Dore mirlitons Francis Landreneaux mirliton variety, Opelousas, Louisiana. Several following in this album. Last four are Fournet variety.
Female flower opens in bag and is ready to pollinate. Once hand pollinated, wait until blossom drops off before taking off bag. I used plastic here but a translucent row-cover material pollination bags would work better--allow for air circulation. See previous photo caption. For instructions on how to hand pollinate flowers, see album here titled "Hand Pollinating Mirlitons."
Unopened female flowers.
Ishreal Thibodeaux Mirliton (white) next several photos
Ishreal Thibodeaux Mirliton (white) 21 oz.
Sister Morgan Mirliton Variety 17 ounces.
Sister Morgan variety
Sister Morgan variety
Sister Morgan variety
Sister Morgan variety
Fred Fournet Mirliton Variety 13 ounces. Maturing into seed.
Fred Fournet and Andre Dore variety
Fred Fournet and Andre Dore variety
Andre Dore Variety
Fred Fournet and Andre Dore variety
Fred Fournet and Andre Dore variety
Fred Fournet and Andre Dore variety
Fred Fournet and Andre Dore variety
Francis Landreneau Mirliton Variety 16 ounces. Next four photos.