NATURAL PARTHENOCARPIC FRUIT PRODUCTION IN 'ANNA' APPLE CULTIVAR (Malus domestica cv. Anna)

S. J. Owais

Bull. Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ. 2014

ABSTRACT

In the current study, Anna apple cv. showed parthenocarpic tendency; shriveled seeded fruits and non-seeded fruits were observed. Results showed that self-pollination and open-pollination with Anna cv. pollens released in the same field lead to parthenocarpic fruits, while artificial cross-pollination with Golden Dorset cv. gave comparably seeded fruits. Moreover, metrological data revealed that entirely seedless fruits developed under high temperatures prevailing during blooming time of Anna cv. Seedless fruits seemed to develop with stimulus pollination. The parthenocarpic fruits showed an elongated form and ring shape near the apical region. In conclusion, results obtained in this study indicate that Anna cv. has an interesting parthenocapic property, which might addresses problems related to pollinator requirements.

Key words: apple, cross-pollination, open-pollination, self-pollination, pathenocarpy.