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Ft. Branch, IN ([email protected])

I went out this morning to pollinate the first legitimate females (11' out) on both my state fair plants...only to find that both of them have only 4 lobes.

Has anyone ever determined what the difference of mature fruit (growth rate) this causes vs. 5 lobe vs. 6 lobe?

6/22/2005 9:36:37 AM

No Place Special

nothing wrong with a 4 lober at all.

6/22/2005 10:55:01 AM

Utah

agreed...
I think that the number of lobes has no influence on the size of the fruit.
I think of lobes as just tubes that allow the transfer the pollen from the outside to the inside of the fruit. typically the more lobes there are the smaller they are ... so the basic area of the tubes stays the same.
And it doesn't matter if there are 3 or 8 lobes, so long as enough of the pollen makes it inside and fertilization occurs.

6/22/2005 11:27:31 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Michael:
4 lobes are not a weight handicap in my opinion, though I have always thought it meant less seeds would be produced from that fruit. For the record, the aggc lists the following:

4 lobes= 55 fruit over 1000
5 lobes=168 fruit over 1000 (if I counted correctly)
6 lobes=19 fruit over 1000

I'm sure the 5 lobe fruit prevail only because they represent a vast majority of female flowers on AG's... So don't be disappointed about the 4 lober this morning. Grow 'em big!

Frank

6/22/2005 11:52:04 AM

Commack, NY

why would you be dissapointed. Look at Franks research, i think his conclusions are right on the money. I seem to remember the 969 Krug from Iowa was only a 3 lober.

6/22/2005 11:56:49 AM

[email protected]

You might have fewer seeds inside the fruit. But so what? Grow well & let not your heart be troubled Stevenson.

6/22/2005 4:51:22 PM

No Place Special

I think your right Scott. Also Dans 1432 was 4 lobes I think

6/22/2005 10:50:31 PM

Ft. Branch, IN ([email protected])

Excellent.....I appreciate all the kind words of support! I will be pollinating the next couple that come around....but I will give these two "4 Lobers" equal chance!

Thanks again!

6/22/2005 11:50:34 PM