Fertility, fruit set and fruit physical and chemical properties as affected by SN/PL ratio and different pollinizers for three plum cultivars [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This investigation was carried out during the three successive seasons of 2001, 2002 and 2003 on three Japanese plum (prunus saliciana) cultivars; Santa-Rosa, Durado and Eldorado in order to study the relationship between stamen number/pistil length ratio, pollen viability and fruit set of the three plum cultivars. Also, the effect of different polIinizers on physical and chemical properties of fruits of plum cultivars under the study was studied. The results showed that, Durado cv. had the highest value of stamen number (SN), the longest pistil length (PL) and the highest viability of pollen grains followed by Santa-Rosa and Eldorado cvs. Durado cv. had the highest value of SN/PL ratio followed by Eldorado cv. and Santa-Rosa cv. which had the lowest SN/PL ratio. Selfing of both Durado and Eldorado cvs exhibited very high SN/PL ratio and a low fruit set percentage, while Santa-Rosa cv. exhibited low SN/PL ratio and a high fruit set percentage. So, when SN/PL decreases, self fertility increases and reverse. Moreover, data indicated that, no metaxenia effect was observed on both fruit and stone weight in the pollinated plum fruits as well as T.S.S% in fruit juice. However, pollen grains from different cultivars had various effects on the shape of plum fruit. In addition, the pollen source had significant effect on acidity and sugar/acid ratio of fruits.

Summary in Arabic.

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