THE EFFECT OF REPEATED OR MIXED CROSS/AND SELF-POLLINATION ON FRUIT AND SEED SET OF APPLE AND PEAR

Results are reviewed of numerous trials with apple and pear regarding double pollinations at an 1–2 day interval with compatible and self-incompatible pollen and mixtures of the two.
Double pollinations with compatible pollen greatly increased the formation of seeds of which the second pollen formed thrice as many as the first, so-called ‘pioneer pollen’. Selfing following cross-pollination depressed, the reverse procedure increased fruit and seed set; the % self-seed was higher for the former than for the latter treatment.
In mixed pollinations fruit and seed set tended to decrease and the % self-seed to increase with an increasing proportion of self pollen in the treatment.
It was concluded that in the orchard the self pollen significantly influences fruit and seed set, specifically in the presence of compatible pollen.

Flowering and Fruit Set in Fruit Trees

T. Visser

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1984.149.13