Articles
EFFECTS OF FOLIAR BORON APPLICATIONS TO ALMOND ON SOME POLLEN FEATURES AND FRUIT SET
Article number
984_18
Pages
171 – 177
Language
English
Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the effects of foliar boron (B) applica-tion on leaf B concentration, pollen viability and pollen germination rates of Nonpareil and Drake almond trees (Prunus dulcis), and on fruit set of artificially, open-, and self-pollinated Nonpareil almond trees.
The experiment was conducted in an orchard near Sanliurfa, Turkey.
The B treatment rates were 0 (water-sprayed control), 250 ppm, 500 ppm and 750 ppm during 2004-2006 years.
Sprays were applied at the end of autumn and at bud swelling time in spring.
There was a tendency for B application to have a positive effect on pollen viability for the Drake cultivar in both 2005 and 2006. In contrast, B application had no effect on pollen viability of the Nonpareil cultivar in either year.
Boron applications influenced pollen germination in both two years and cultivars.
Boron application improved fruit set on Nonpareil trees that were cross-pollinated artificially using Drake pollen; however, this effect was not observed on naturally pollinated trees.
Self-pollinated trees had total crop loss due to self-incompatibility.
Boron application increased leaf B concen¬trations in both cultivars in both years.
The results indicate that there is a generally beneficial effect of applying B to almond trees grown under the low soil B conditions around Sanliurfa. Drake almond trees appear to be somewhat more responsive than are Nonpareil trees to B application.
The experiment was conducted in an orchard near Sanliurfa, Turkey.
The B treatment rates were 0 (water-sprayed control), 250 ppm, 500 ppm and 750 ppm during 2004-2006 years.
Sprays were applied at the end of autumn and at bud swelling time in spring.
There was a tendency for B application to have a positive effect on pollen viability for the Drake cultivar in both 2005 and 2006. In contrast, B application had no effect on pollen viability of the Nonpareil cultivar in either year.
Boron applications influenced pollen germination in both two years and cultivars.
Boron application improved fruit set on Nonpareil trees that were cross-pollinated artificially using Drake pollen; however, this effect was not observed on naturally pollinated trees.
Self-pollinated trees had total crop loss due to self-incompatibility.
Boron application increased leaf B concen¬trations in both cultivars in both years.
The results indicate that there is a generally beneficial effect of applying B to almond trees grown under the low soil B conditions around Sanliurfa. Drake almond trees appear to be somewhat more responsive than are Nonpareil trees to B application.
Authors
M. Kizildemir, I. Bolat, B.E. Ak
Keywords
Prunus dulcis, micronutrient, tree fruit, foliar spray, leaf analysis
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