IMPROVEMENT OF FRUIT SETTING AND YIELD IN MISHQUI. A REVIEW WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS IN GENETIC PARTHENOCARPY

Low yields as a result of occasional lack of fruit set may hamper the introduction of pepino (Solanum muricatum Aiton) as a new crop in areas with mild-winter climates.
Sensitivity to high temperatures, lack of pollen release, competition with vegetative growth, low light intensity in certain types of greenhouse, and the peculiar characteristics of each cultivar are identified as the main causes of lack of fruit set.
Several ways to improve fruit set are discussed, namely the development of parthenocarpic cultivars, use of growth regulators, limitation of vegetative growth, improvement of pollen release and modification of the growing environment.
Of these methods proposed, we think that the use of natural parthenocarpy is the most suitable way to ensure a sustainable improvement of pepino yield.
It is known that a dominant gene (P) confers the character parthenocarpy.
Data from different experiments show that parthenocarpic clones give a consistently higher yield than the non-parthenocarpic ones, especially when conditions are unfavourable for fruit set.
Therefore, the development of parthenocarpic clones could contribute to an increase in yield and also to an improvement in stability without modifying the environment, or a need for the application of additional cultural practices.

V International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climates: Current Trends for Suistainable Technologies

F. Nuez, J. Prohens

Solanum muricatum, new crops, fruit set, plant breeding, P gene

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.559.101