Articles
PHENOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY IN CULTIVAR ‘JUDIA’ (CASTANEA SATIVA MILL.)
Article number
866_19
Pages
169 – 174
Language
English
Abstract
The present study aims at gaining better scientific knowledge on the floral biology of the cultivar Judia (Castanea sativa). Pollination and embryo growth are strongly influenced by climatic conditions that vary from site to site at different altitudes and across years often being the main cause for the quantity and quality production variability.
On the other hand, fertilization and the early embryo development are important stages that influence yield and quality of chestnuts including the polyspermy rate of the nut.
In this study, phenological observations were carried out during flowering and nut growth in 2007 for defining the most appropriate dates for performing, in 2008, controlled pollinations and the sampling of inflorescences and young fruitlets.
The aim was to study ovule development, fertilization and early embryogenesis in chestnut.
The controlled pollinations of Judia were done with pollen from Negral and Lada, two compatible pollinator cultivars.
Histological observations showed that around mid July ovules were developing and contained the megaspore mother cell.
Flowers pollinated with Negral showed mature ovules on the 3rd week of July while flowers pollinated with Lada had mature ovules 5 days earlier.
The influence of pollinator on polyspermy is still uncertain but the time of pollination appears to be critical to fruit formation.
On the other hand, fertilization and the early embryo development are important stages that influence yield and quality of chestnuts including the polyspermy rate of the nut.
In this study, phenological observations were carried out during flowering and nut growth in 2007 for defining the most appropriate dates for performing, in 2008, controlled pollinations and the sampling of inflorescences and young fruitlets.
The aim was to study ovule development, fertilization and early embryogenesis in chestnut.
The controlled pollinations of Judia were done with pollen from Negral and Lada, two compatible pollinator cultivars.
Histological observations showed that around mid July ovules were developing and contained the megaspore mother cell.
Flowers pollinated with Negral showed mature ovules on the 3rd week of July while flowers pollinated with Lada had mature ovules 5 days earlier.
The influence of pollinator on polyspermy is still uncertain but the time of pollination appears to be critical to fruit formation.
Publication
Authors
L.-T. Dinis, S. Ramos, J. Gomes-Laranjo, F. Peixoto, R. Vallania, R. Costa, R. Botta
Keywords
Portugal, chestnut, floral biology, pollination, embryogenesis
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