Quote:
Originally Posted by Nan_PA_6b
In all the instructions on how to cross-pollinate, one is instructed to shake or scrape the pollen off the anther to collect it, and take the pollen to the female.
Why not just take the anther to the female and rub the anther on it? Surely this gets the maximum pollen where you need it? Is there a drawback?
Nan
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The anthers don't always open so the pollen isn't released. If you look closely at an tomato anther it looks vaguely like a plastic coin purse -- the two sides are rolled over the inner surface of the anther (where the pollen is).
(Other species of plants do fully expose the surface of the anther and your method then would work fine.)