ISHS Acta Horticulturae 423: II Workshop on Pollination
FRUIT SET, SEED SET AND FRUIT WEIGHT IN APPLE AS INFLUENCED BY EMASCULATION, SELF-POLLINATION AND CROSS-POLLINATION |
| Authors: | K. De Witte, J. Vercammen, G. van Daele, J. Keulemans |
| Keywords: | Malus domestica (Bork.) |
| Abstract:
In this study we were questioning if self-pollination can assure an acceptable fruit set and quality (fruit weight) compared to cross-pollination. We intended also to evaluate the impact of seeds on fruit set and fruit weight. Fruit set, seed set and fruit weight from self-pollinated flowers, cross-pollinated flowers and free pollinated flowers were compared. Self-pollination always resulted in a lower fruit set, but only in a few cases the remaining fruit set was too low to garantee a normal yield. Seed set was also lower after self pollination, although no general relation with fruit set could be found. Free self-pollination gave a higher fruit set then when the self pollen was applied by hand. Fruit weight after self-pollination was comparable or lower then after cross-pollination. In general, differences in fruit weight between the years were very pronounced, even more so than differences between pollinizers, and were not in proportion to the fruit set. Emasculation, a prerequisite to avoid contamination of own pollen, always caused a distinct decrease in fruit set, but only in a few cases this reduction was unacceptable. Emasculation had no or only little effect on seed set. | |
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