Abstract
The pollination and fertilization process directly affects the crop yield of peach. Previous studies have shown that some cultivars lack consistent cropping (yield variation) in subtropical regions. The application of boric acid at flowering can minimize this problem. This study quantified the germination of pollen grains and fruit set on 18 cultivars of peach in a subtropical region when treated with boric acid at bud. The initial spray treatments were three concentrations of boric acid (400 mgL-1, 800 mgL-1 and 1,200 mgL-1) plus a control treatment of water. Treatments were sprayed on the shoots when the flower buds were flower bud swelling on early maturing cultivars Aurora 2 and Docura 2. There is a cultivar difference where ‘Aurora 2’ had a negative effect from the application of boric acid on the percentage of germinated pollen grains and fruit set. ‘Docura 2’ has a positive results at the concentration of 400 mgL-1 of boric acid. In a follow-up experiment with 18 cultivars, using only the water control and 400 mgL-1 boric acid treatment, boron increases pollen grain germination and fruit set for some cultivars. The increase in germination and fruit set varies significantly among the cultivars. The concentration of 400 mgL-1 of boric acid increases pollen germination and fruit set, but not in all cultivars.
Highlights
Pollination and fertilization are the most important processes of sexual reproduction in plants (NAVA et al, 2009)
Some cultivars in subtropical regions develop a form of alternate bearing, where crop yields vary between consecutive years (SOUZA et al, 2013)
The objective in this study was to determine ifthe application of boric acid increases pollen grain germination and fruit set in peach cultivars cultivatedin a subtropical region
Summary
Pollination and fertilization are the most important processes of sexual reproduction in plants (NAVA et al, 2009). The adoption of low chill peach cultivars in subtropical and tropical regions with mild winters enable the harvest of fruits in times of less supply (BARBOSA et al, 2010). According to Chagas et al (2009), pollen grains should have approximately 50% germination for good fruit set to occur and subsequent high yields. Nava et al (2009) found that the application of boron in the form of boric acid in the bloom period increased peach fruit set though boron is a nutrient that is rarely found at low levels or deficient in orchards and is not added annually in managed orchards. The objective in this study was to determine ifthe application of boric acid increases pollen grain germination and fruit set in peach cultivars cultivatedin a subtropical region
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