> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: R Hansen <bulbnut@hansennursery.com> > …The advantage to PBS is that people are learning > to come to PBS for all sorts of information, technical or not… Exactly! I found the PBS two years ago as I was researching microwaving pollen for some Hippeastrum self-pollinations, and found lots of discussion, although fragmented, on the PBS board archive by doing a search “microwave pollen.” Now I’m a member going on my second year! But just because I’m not technically-trained, doesn’t mean I don’t want to learn (or can't understand!) the technical aspects of my hobby! I suppose microwaving is what science would describe as the *“Mentor Pollen effect?”* Somebody can tell me if I have it wrong. That term might help someone researching it, as Robin says that perhaps a research project might be in the works. Someone THAT HAS EDUCATIONAL ACCESS, which I don’t, so I can only read the publisher summary of a definition of Mentor Pollen: “Mentor pollen is compatible pollen that has been treated in several ways to block its fertilizing capacity but retaining its ability to stimulate incompatible pollen to effect fertilization.” *Mentor Pollen Techniques, International Review of Cytology, Volume 107, 1987, Pages 315-332* And this is often quoted: Stettler RF, Ager AA (1984) Mentor effects in pollen interactions. pp 609- 623 (Encyclopedia Plant Physiology) Again, I have no access to read it online. I can see enough of these technical documents to know this is all incredibly complex, and sometimes very specific to a plant variety. However, I would love a scientifically- trained person (there are many here!) to access, read and interpret these things in a wiki artickle for me so I can have more success as a plant hobbyist! I would also love to read Uli's technique, scientific or not, so I have something to try. Here is an example of the reach of PBS posts on microwaving pollen to other online discussions and forums: https://garden.org/thread/view/… And an example that with future changes, we REALLY don’t want to lose the archive and wiki. Ken I _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>