STUDY ON POLLINATING CULTIVARS FOR FRUIT SETTING OF 'KHOM' LYCHEE

Authors:	B. Somnuk, T. Suavansri
Keywords:	floral biology, blooming period, anther dehiscence, pollen viability, pollen production
Abstract: Studies on floral biology of seven local lychee cultivars: ‘Khom’, ‘Thai’, ‘Thai Yai’, ‘Khiao Wan’, ‘Kalok’, ‘Samphao Kaeo’ and ‘Chin’ were carried out by investigating the blooming period, anther dehiscence, pollen viability and pollen production. The fruit set of ‘Khom’ by hand pollination, panicles caging and open-panicle pollination in the presence of insect pollinators were compared. The number and behavior of bee pollinators visiting each cultivar and distance of pollinating cultivars were recorded. It was concluded that stamens of ‘Khom’ were staminode and had no viable pollens, therefore pollinating cultivars, which act as pollen-source donors and bee pollinators, were indispensable for complete fruit set of ‘Khom’ lychee.
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