Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Assist. Prof., of Crop and Horticultural Science Research Department, East Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tabriz, Iran.
2
Assoc. Prof. of Crop and Horticultural Science Research Department, East Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tabriz, Iran.
3
Researcher of Crop and Horticultural Science Research Department, East Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tabriz, Iran.
10.22034/saps.2023.55545.3005
Abstract
Background and Objective: This study was conducted to determine the pollen (in)compatibility of seven commercial cultivars in crossing with four almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) promising genotypes and to select the best pollinizer with the aim of ensuring fruit set and stable production.
Materials and Methods: The percentage of initial and final fruit set of almond promising genotypes was evaluated after controlled pollination with pollinizers on experimental orchard in Sahand horticultural research station (East Azerbaijan) in two consecutive years. Also, the pollen tube growth inside the pistil of recipient genotypes was tracked using fluorescent microscope. Observing at least one pollen tube inside the ovary was considered as compatibility and stopping the pollen tube through style was considered as incompatibility.
Results: All of pollinizers including Azar, Sahand, Fragness, A200, Araz, Eskandar and Tono had pollen compatibility with recipient genotypes. The highest percentage of final fruit set for AL721 was achieved when it was pollinated with Azar and Eskandar (59% and 56%, respectively), for AL1310 with Azar (41%), Sahand and Eskandar (39%), for NP2 with Eskandar and Azar (57% and 54%, respectively) and for KH2 with Eskandar and Araz (44% and 43%, respectively).
Conclusion: Assessment of final fruit set after controlled pollination in orchard determined suitable pollinizers of new promising genotypes. The genotypes AL721 and AL1310 (with 59% and 25% fruit set, respectively) had the highest and lowest fertility potential. Microscopic observations of pollen tube growth inside the pistil confirmed the orchard evaluations.
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