ISHS Acta Horticulturae 632: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Citrus and Other Subtropical and Tropical Fruit Crops: Issues, Advances and Opportunities
NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL POLLINATION OF ATEMOYA IN BRAZIL |
| Authors: | M.R. Melo, C.V. Pommer, R. Kavati |
| Keywords: | Annonaceae, Annona squamosa x A. cherimola, yield, fruit quality, pollen source |
| Abstract:
An experiment was carried out to study atemoya pollination and to determine the pollination method that produces fruits in larger number and better quality. The study was performed in the cultivar Gefner, in the period of November 2000 to March 2001, in a commercial orchard located in the county of Lins – SP, Brazil, at an altitude of 425 meters. The plants were 13 years old. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with 5 treatments and 6 replicates. The treatments were as follows: 1) manual pollination (pollen of A. squamosa); 2) manual pollination (pollen of atemoya 'Gefner'); 3) manual pollination (pollen of atemoya 'African Pride'); 4) manual pollination (pollen of atemoya 'PR-3'); 5) natural (open) pollination. The evaluation of fruit set was made 10 days after the pollination and the number of fruits with perfect (flawless) or defective shape was counted after 40 days. Atemoya fruits were picked 120 days after the pollination and individually weighed. Three-fruit samples of each treatment were taken for the following determinations: seed and pulp weight, number of seeds per 100 g of pulp, total soluble solids content, total acidity and soluble solids/acidity ratio. The pollination of atemoya with pollen of A. squamosa L. was more effective, increasing the fruit set (80.5% compared to less than 22% in the other treatments), fruit production and percentage of marketable fruits. | |
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