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Coupeville WA

I am growing this plant this year, but have not had one viable male. The flower is perfectly formed, but when it blooms, there is no stamen. I guess this is what growers are calling sterile plants.

Should I anticipate any problems with the females. I have polinated one pumpkin on the plant. It did appear "normal" but I have never seen this with any pumpkin, ever.

Crosses always look so much better on paper!

7/8/2011 11:30:37 PM

Bloomington, IN

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=19&p=397188

7/8/2011 11:58:27 PM

Coupeville WA

Wow-
Thanks. Should have used the search window.
I am glad that I am not the only one. This really is too bad because the plant is performing well.

7/9/2011 12:06:36 AM

Stanwood, Washington

Off Topic.
I am an Oak Harbor native who was born in Coupeville I am living on Camano Island now just across the water from you. Do you have a Diary? I'd like to see how your plants are doing since you're about as close to me as anyone on here.

7/9/2011 12:48:57 AM

Tinykinville

pollenate crap outta every thing its lack of procreation may benefit outcome.or lost cause nothin to lose.

7/9/2011 5:15:25 AM

Coupeville WA

Captain-I never have kept a diary. It is just a matter of time for me.
Other local growers around you are Dean Biss in Sedro Wooley, Dick Kilburn in Anacortes and Lee Roof also here on Whidbey Island (OH). All are experienced growers and good people. I also grew up in OH and graduated in 87. Finally moved back to the rock in 98. If you are ever over here, you are welcome to stop by and see my set up.
Phil Renninger 720-2318

7/9/2011 9:37:53 AM

Wi

There is also a few 1810's with this issue. I feel bad about it, but not much we can do.

7/9/2011 1:36:45 PM

Marion,IN

Phil,
I had a plant a few years ago that did the same thing. Best looking and biggest I ever had. By all appearances, this plant had it all, BUT, my males were just as you described. None of the pollination's lasted. They all quit growing on me about the time they got to kickball size. Good luck Phil!

Mark G.

7/9/2011 1:57:20 PM

Tinykinville

lol chris ill forgive you if you send me two more seeds dang that plant is my best and takin up good patch room. polls take but they abort again and again and i hold you solely responsible till i get a couple seeds to try again next year lol.

7/10/2011 4:13:06 AM

Polson, Montana

I have the same problem with the 1468.5. The plant is sterile. Plant looks awesome but plant is sterile. Rejects everything. This plant is in a greenhouse and the 1303 Sweet beside it is going gangbusters. Has to be the genetics or something used to pump it up.

7/10/2011 9:05:25 PM

Ohio

all 4 of my females on the 1468 took when pollinated, and also on a 1468 plant that T. Skinner is growing, his took as well, I dont know if this would be a genetic thing or not?

7/10/2011 11:38:54 PM

Coupeville WA

I don't think it is soil/envioronmental. All of my other plants are forming "normal" males, loaded with pollen.

I have several females pollinated on the main vine, all of which are beautiful, 5 lobe females. Time will tell if these take or not.

7/11/2011 12:58:44 AM

Polson, Montana

No, it is not soil or environment. I have 6 other plants and they are all doing well. The 1468 took pollination but they grow to a certain size and quit. I'v pollinated three on it and they all appear to be goind down. The 1303 Sweet beside it is doing great. These are huge healthy plants.

7/11/2011 9:43:52 AM

Colorado

My 1468.5 stevens is normal.fruit have set- lots of pollen on the males.However when you look at the very small # of viable seeds in the 1810.5-not surprising that theres sterility issue with a percentage of the offspring.Genetics experts please chime in on what may be behind all this.I think its coming through the 898 knauss ancestor.

7/11/2011 11:26:32 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

.....898 ancestors.....guess we will see as I am putting 1810.5 into my 898 X 901 cross.....

7/11/2011 11:49:19 AM

Deer Park, WI

Folks, the verdict is in, there are a significant number of 1468 and 1810 plants who's reproductive capacities are questionable.

Its premature to draw conclusions on female aborts, however, the presence of abnormal males, specifically the absence of stamens (if you dont know the definition of this word, now would be a really good time to "Wiki" it and learn) seems to be increasing with each report.

The absence of stamens from the male flowers is, without question, a genetic factor. This is not a variable that can be controlled by your environment. One of the parents of the 1810/1468 (1161 & 1421) likely had some sort of mutation in its genetic code that prevents normal development of stamens in some of its offspring.

In layman's terms, the instruction manual for male flowers in these offspring has a big ole typo.

Here are the facts we know- Functional 1810 and 1468 males exist. This means whatever genetic mumbo jumbo took place, its not what we call a "dominant" trait. If it had been dominant, 100% of males on both offspring would be sterile.

Because this appears to be a genetic trait in a reproductive organ, it will be impossible to reinforce this trait in breeding programs by virtue of absence of a reproductive organ. This bodes well for eliminating the problem in subsequent generations.

Doesnt help those of you, however, that had hoped to breed these genetics into your plants. While it may be too late now, the only remedy is to seek out functional males from friends and neighbors who can provide.

We can do an analysis on the situation by collecting information from those growing the seeds. I encourage everyone with a 1468 or 1810 in the ground to comment on this post regarding the functionality of their male flowers.

7/11/2011 12:27:45 PM

Polson, Montana

Joze, you have some good points and I appreciate the info. None of mine have a stamen; not even one. The female flowers look normal but when I pollinate from another plant they get about as big as a soccer ball then stop growing. The shape is more tapered toward the blossom end. I cut the first pollination when it stopped growing, now the second has stopped and the third has stopped at the size of a baseball. The second pollination has had some stem splits and I have a fan on it. I have removed all males from the plant and examined them all. nothing.

7/11/2011 1:37:44 PM

Arden, NC

I have a 1468.5 in the ground and its doing fine, males are normal females are normal. Have an 11 day old pollination on the vine that is a little snoot nosed but also grew by 15 ott last night. Have one other pollinated on this plant but just a few days old.

7/11/2011 3:07:37 PM

France

I grow the 1468,5 Stevens too. Nice plant, all females and males are normals. All males have pollens. All females produce egg shape pumpkins which I appreciate. I pollinated it with the 1605 Sweet.

7/11/2011 5:08:24 PM

France

I grow the 1468,5 Stevens too. Nice plant, all females and males are normals. All males have pollens. All females produce egg shape pumpkins which I appreciate. I pollinated it with the 1605 Sweet.

7/11/2011 5:09:33 PM

France

I grow the 1468,5 Stevens too. Nice plant, all females and males are normals. All males have pollens. All females produce egg shape pumpkins which I appreciate. I pollinated it with the 1605 Sweet.

7/11/2011 5:11:03 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Joe & Chris, my 1810 has not thrown a viable male yet. It has gone from little tiny, and I mean tiny, undeveloped stamens to no stames at all, just a void. The 1468 has thrown a few viable males early in the season however has not given me a mature male flower for over 2-3 weeks.

Both plants have good sets on them as far as females go however (so far).

Jim

7/11/2011 5:21:06 PM

Minnesota

No problems with 1810 here.
1468 has produced males with no stamens and so far has aborted two females. Never had any problems with aborts in the past so I figure it is sterile.

7/11/2011 6:00:13 PM

Colorado

normal 1468 here. all males and females look great.

7/11/2011 9:19:00 PM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

The 1810 that Ken Sweet is growing has no viable males. Last time I talked to him he said it looked like the pumpkin was going to abort. I will check with him tomorrow.

7/11/2011 9:40:37 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Last year I had a plant that up to and a few weeks past fruit set had no stamens. After the vines were terminated I was surprised to notice that all the last males were normal with perfect stamens! I was convinced that environmental factors were to blame. I would keep watching to see if they start producing normal males. We had cool,wet weather with no sun when I had the bad males.

7/11/2011 11:53:03 PM

Parker, Co

My 1468 is normal, no problems. However the 1810 had very few males that opened and those that did had no stamen. Pollinated 3 pumpkins on its main, crossing my fingers. Pete

7/11/2011 11:59:46 PM

Wi

Both my 1810 and 1468 are fine. Everything in my patch is pollinated with 1810 except 1468 which was selfed.

I just wish my 1468 looked like JD's :)

7/12/2011 9:13:45 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

My 1810.5 ( WrinKleZ) is doing well. Had Lots of males, some of which had double stamenZ....as shown in the diary....pollen amount OK, pollinated several of mine and other growers. No abort issues. Growing very well! Updates to occur frequently in my diary.....

7/12/2011 12:02:04 PM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

My only complaint with my 1468.5 is that the nearly all of the female flowers are considerably less than perfect Twisted deformed lobes are a norm with my plant whether they are on a secondary or the main. The plant is quite prolific with producing female flowers however.I have passed over two sets on the main already because of this settling on a somewhat less than perfect flowwer pollinated on the 3rd of July. On the other hand, the plant is a beast! No problem with males. They are big and look normal.

7/12/2011 6:46:38 PM