Cacti hybridizing

Wakinyan · **Joined:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:17 pm **Posts:** 39

I've been fooling around with hybridizing for years, grafting styles, ovaries, etc...anything to get around compatibility issues with pollen...etc...I try and try....and try again till I get something that works. The bottom line is....I don't know enough about cacti hybridizing...anyone point me to a book that lists compatible species or species that should be compatible, but that are difficult crosses in general? I'm thinking of working with Ariocarpus and Astrophytums personally as the two are totally wicked looking or can be...a nice shove in the direction of some hybrid seed would be nice as well. I'm in Europe so please remember the shove should be one that is over here!
Thanks,
Wakinyan

Teotzlcoatl · **Posted:** Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:13 am

I would like to attempt crosses of Lophophora and Ariocarpus, Astrophytum, Aztekium, Peleyphora, Strombocactus and Turbinicarpus...

I'd shit myself if I actually got some viable seeds. :lol:

Wakinyan · **Joined:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:17 pm **Posts:** 39

While that may be true....
I'd rather think you had the wisdom to realize that a cross like this would most likely have you attempting to do what is known as embryo rescue. Viable only if you are adept at tissue culture. Just don't expect to get anything right at the start. Sometimes advanced pollination techniques are needed.

There are many reasons why a cross does not take. The pollen may only be able to grow a certain distance. This distance usually coincides with the distance from the tip of the stigma to the ovary of the same plant. The foreign pollen may not germinate fast enough as there may be a narrow window/fertile period. Generally, if the cross is too far removed the endosperm does not develop properly. To circumvent these issues one has many things that you can try. Embryo rescue is just one of them. Of course, how do you get the pollen to take in the first place? Cutting the style of the seed bearing plant to the same length or shorter than the style of the pollen donor is a start. Many types of foreign pollen will actually germinate on the wrong style and soon abort. Cutting the style in half may resolve that issue. Of course, there is always in vitro ovular pollination...simply apply the pollen directly to the ovules plated out on your agar.

meme · **Joined:** Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:43 pm **Posts:** 37

from MagiCactus.com:

"Unlike that of L.Diffusa and its varieties, L.Williamsii has been successfully fertilized by Ariocarpus Fissuratus, L.Diffusa, Mammillaria Bocasana, M.Zeilmanniana, Strombcactus Disciformis, Turbinicarpus Pseudomacrochele, Astrophytum Asterias, and Epithelantha Micromeris."

-http://www.magicactus.com/description.html

This site, which I am not linking to, sells Turbinicarpus x Lophophora or "Turbininphopra" seeds. Here is a picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/28672277@N02/2718803146/ [/img]

neonfyr · **Joined:** Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:58 pm **Posts:** 71

You can see online which peyotes are self fertile and which crosses have been tested.

Also all trich. for the most part can interbreed.

L. Williamsii is self fertile, so you can make seeds with one flower.

You can use a small brush to pollinate a cactus, maybe a fine makeup brush from the store. Then you sterilize the brush between uses with alcohol. Or you can cross away this with that, or you can reserve one brush as having a particular pollen on it.

However if you're not careful, with peyotes that are self fertile, you might make it pollinate itself, if you're not careful.

There's lot more info online.... !

-Matthew-

Teotzlcoatl · **Posted:** Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:54 am

Quote:

Cross between Turbinicarpus lophophoroides and Lophophora williamsii.

7 cm high, 7 cm big, about 3 or 4 pups.

A qoute by M. S. Smith about hybrid Lophs, unrelated to the above photo-

Quote:

The photos are rather of L. jourdaniana, a plant that is not known to have any natural habitat and of which I have argued is an unintentional intergeneric hybrid with a non-Lophophora species. I assume the cross is between L. williamsii and either a Mammillaria or a Turbinicarpus. L. jordaniana are well know for their spines and quick tillering (pup setting), items which have always led me to think the cross is with a Mammillaria, but I am not sure there is any way to be certain. I am though quite certain that this is not L. williamsii or L. diffusa (nor "L. echinata") and is not even a plant that has a representation in habitat. It is a collection hybrid of sorts whose provenance seems to be unknown. It likely had its origins in European collections.

Certainly one of the rarest in collections, but not suprising as it has been known for some time. Tell the owner it is L. jourdaniana and you heard it from someone well versed regarding Lophophora species and variations.

I might also add that I argue L. ceaspitosa is also a L. williamsii collection hybrid based upon it also having spines and tillering rapidly, and not having apparent representation in nature (this even though there are scattered representation of "carpet" Lophophora in nature, but which do not appear to bear the spines and the smaller flower size common to L. ceaspitosa). L. ceaspitosa are also self-sterile and give seed only when crossed with standard L. williamsii, something that also leads me to conclude it a hybrid as L. williamsii is readily self-fertile.

~Michael~

Some great links on the subject-

http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=17546

http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=13254

http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=17077&hl=crossing+cacti

http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=9344&hl=crossing+cacti

http://www.shaman-australis.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=14348&st=0&p=134238&#entry134238

Mescalitto · **Posted:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:51 am

Try crossing Lophophora Koehresii with Lophophora Fricii, it can and has been done. Fricii wont take pollen tho.
I have a lopho hybrid that i beleive to be a Mamillaria x lophophora Williamsii. It has a mid pink flower (somewhere between fricii and williamsii in colour), It has very pronounced tubercles is a glossy mid green colour, and has tiny jouvenile spines that last for ages (like jourdaniana) untill it flowers and these become obscured by wool.

Teotzlcoatl · **Posted:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 1:40 am

I'd love to see a pic of it!

Mescalitto · **Posted:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:45 am

I may have to email you tho as i have no idea how to put an image up on this forum???? :?:

Teotzlcoatl · **Posted:** Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:09 pm

Awesome, thanks!

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Cacti hybridizing

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