Open access publications in the SLU publication database

Abstract

The amount of flowers with defective pistils, drop of flowers after pollination, initial fruit set, drop of fruitlets and final fruit set were investigated for Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica). Pollen germination, pollen tube growth and fertilisation were studied at cross- and self-pollination. Embryo development was followed from fertilisation to mature fruit. The percentage of flowers with defective pistils was very high in most of the genotypes studied. This phenomenon seemed to be influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. In compatible (cross-) combinations, pollen tubes reached the base of the ovary within 2–5 days, and fertilisation took place 4–8 days after pollination. In incompatible combinations, pollen germination was slow, pollen tubes grew slowly and were often completely arrested in the style. The effective pollination period was estimated to be 3–5 days. The average initial fruit set was 21.1% (range 0–83.3%), whereas the final fruit set decreased to 10.4% (range 0–37.9%). During embryo development some deviations from normal development were observed, which may influence final fruit set.