ASPECTS OF THE INFLUENCE OF POLLINATION METHODS AND POLLINATION TIME ON THE FRUIT SET OF RED CURRANTS (Ribes rubrum L.)

In a delayed culture with cold-stored plants Rovada, hand-pollination induces a higher fruit set than free pollination. But, despite the abortion of fertilised seeds after hand-pollination, the same berry weight is achieved. This is due to a higher sink activity. The low pollination intensity caused by the isolation or the emasculation of flowers, results in a low fertilisation intensity, less fruit set and a low berry weight. On the other hand, the weight per seed is higher because of the lower competition for assimilates within a strig. The fruit set depends on the place of the flowers in a strig, the period between anthesis and pollination and the order in which the flowers are pollinated in the strig. In a late pollination the chances of fruit set decrease resulting in less seeds per berry. This is also the case in large competition for assimilates, a number of fertilised seeds being aborted. The berry weight depends upon the amount of seeds, as well in the stage of fruit set as at harvest, and of the fruit set.

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