Wasp requirement for pollination

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dkirtexas

Registered:1341345900
Posts: 1,335

Posted 1384693002	Reply with quote #1

If a wasp is required to pollinate a certain cultivar does one have to have the same cultivar of the opposite sex to achieve successful pollination and resulting figs? I really don't know why this question has not popped up in my mind before, getting older, I guess. __________________ Thx, glad to be here Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO" Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8 Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED. Any LSU fig.

hungryjack

Registered:1313447992
Posts: 518

Sas

Registered:1350079929
Posts: 1,364

Posted 1384705692	Reply with quote #3

I have a question for you Danny. As far as you know, do we have the fig wasp in Texas? __________________ Sas from North Austin TX Zone 8B Wish list: Becane

dkirtexas

Registered:1341345900
Posts: 1,335

Posted 1384723972	Reply with quote #4

No wasp in Texas as far as I know, other than the anglo-saxon protestant type, which we have a lot of in East Texas, LOL __________________ Thx, glad to be here Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO" Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8 Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED. Any LSU fig.

Bass

Registered:1188959030
Posts: 2,428

Posted 1384768766	Reply with quote #5

Quote: Originally Posted by dkirtexas If a wasp is required to pollinate a certain cultivar does one have to have the same cultivar of the opposite sex to achieve successful pollination and resulting figs? I really don't know why this question has not popped up in my mind before, getting older, I guess. The wasp needs a Capri fig (male) where it carries the pollen from, to pollinate Smyrna type figs. Not sure what you mean same cultivar of opposite sex. If it's opposite sex then it is never the same variety. __________________ Pennsylvania http://www.treesofjoy.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trees-of-Joy/110193909021138

gorgi

Registered:1188888396
Posts: 2,864

Posted 1384771885	Reply with quote #6

Also, the (male) caprifig produces one of 3 yearly crops (I forgot the name) where them fig-wasps spend one of their live-cycles warm-and-cozy inside it during the (cold) winter. The fig wasp (where available) will caprify (aka., transfer pollen to) all 3 (female) fig types namely, the Common, San Pedro & Smyrna types and irrespective of their specific variety/strain. Common figs (e.g., BT) need NO caprification to fruit (both breba & main). San Pedro figs (e.g., D. King) require the 2nd (main) crop to be caprified; 1st (breba) crop does not. Smyrna figs (e.g., Calimyrna) require both crops to be caprified (else they just fall to the ground when about the size of a nickel). In nature, to produce viable seeds (and/or fruit); F.carica figs do not care much about him (caprifig). However, when breeding figs, a more careful selection of BOTH parents is desired. __________________ George, NJ_z7a.

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