VARIABILITY IN CULTIVAR CHARACTERISTICS AS FACTORS INFLUENCING PRODUCTIVITY IN APRICOT

Frequently, when fruit set of different fruit varieties is examined, special attention is paid to climatic events during flowering as main determinants of fructification.
Rain, temperatures, fog, wind, etc. have a strong incidence on pollination, stigma receptivity, development of pollen tubes, etc., influencing fruit set.
Other factors considered are relative to megagametophyte, e.g. ovule fertility, ovule longevity, etc.
However, before flowering, many factors influence productivity, such as floral induction, flower bud drop, etc.
These factors can have a large incidence in determining the crop.
We examined during two consecutive years the flower bud density, the flower bud drop and the floral fertility in nine varieties growing in Murcia (Spain) and a great variability between they was found.
These differences could explain the yield variability.

XII International Symposium on Apricot Culture and Decline

N. Albuquerque, L. Burgos, J. Egea

Prunus armeniaca, floral biology, fertility

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2006.701.41