FACTORS AFFECTING FRUIT SET IN ‘AGUA DE ARANJUEZ’ PEAR

The causes of erratic bearing in ‘Agua de Aranjuez’ pear trees have been investigated.
An estimation of the effective pollination period indicates that fruit set decreases if pollination occurs three days after anthesis.
Histological evaluation of female fertility reveals a delayed maturation of the megagamethophyte in relation to anthesis.
No mature embryo sacs can be observed at anthesis while most of them are fully mature 5 days later.

‘In vivo’ pollen germination has been assessed in hand pollinated flowers.
Stigmas are not receptive at anthesis and the number of pistils capable of sustaining pollen germination increases with time until 4 days after anthesis.
The scarce stigma receptivity during the short effective pollination period is an additional factor to the erratic cropping of this variety.

Fruit Set and Development, XXI IHC

M. Herrero

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1983.139.12