Mauka: Mission Accomplished

Determination, vision and a piece of black plastic have shown that mauka anthocarps-a-plenty can be produced right here, right now.  These are the ones that I've collected from the white flowered variety "Blanca" which Frank van Keirsbilck sent me last year as a cutting.  If they turn out to be viable, which is my fervent hope, breeding better adapted maukas should be within my grasp. Or I should at least be able to breed ones which are equally as good as the existing ones.  In the light of the successes Radix has also experienced with oca seed production, I am now envisaging a two-pronged attack on Britain's vegetable gardens in an attempt to overthrow the centuries-old hegemony of Solanum tuberosum, followed by a pincer like movement across mainland Europe.  The revolution begins here.

Comments

Unknown said…
Viva la revolucion!

I can't wait to read more about future seedlings.

Good luck!

Ryan
orflo said…
Nice job!! I do hope that the seeds will eliminate some viruses, because this blanca is very unproductive. The next step is crossing them in with one of the other varieties, but first, let's see if the seeds are viable. And then we can move on to some varieties that need a shorter climate for better production. Oh, does that sound familiar? :-)
Some ahipa seeds are beeing produced here, they were greenhouse grown and I hope the'll be viable this time.
Unknown said…
All this success! I can see you needing a field soon.

A potential third confederate for the attack? - I have what looks like flower heads forming on two arracacha plants.
orflo said…
Arracacha is an umbellifer, most (if not all) umbellifers are outbreeders, so you could be lucky with your two plants. However, unless your plants have become really big over the last few weeks, I wouldn't be tempted to let them produce seeds rightaway, this could cost lots of energy from the small plants... Apparently, germination rate on arracacha seeds is quite lowe, and big seeds germinate better than small seeds. You can read a whole story on arracacha in M. Hermann excellent book: Andean roots and tubers: ahipa,arracacha, maca and yacon It can be downloaded from the bioversity site.
Anonymous said…
Viva la revolution!
Viva Mauka Blanca!

Lots of gardens will be ready :-)
Stephen B said…
I was going to mention a revolution, but it's already started (twice) :) Not exactly an edimental is it (unlike it's colleague M. jalapa). Anyway, congratulations on your first seeds...
Congratulations! Bring it! I'll come with my trowel at the ready.
Mark said…
Congratulations. Keep up the good work. Many will be waiting for your success.