Effect of androecious genotypes as pollinizers on ‘Soshu’ persimmon fruit quality

Abstract

Several androecious germplasms bearing only staminate flowers were collected from Dabie Mountains located in central China. The effect of those genotypes as pollen sources on leading commercial cultivar fruit setting and quality has not been elucidated yet. The fruit characteristics of Japanese PCNA cultivar 'Soshu' were assessed after pollination with 'Male 1', 'Male 3', 'Male 8' and 'Zenjimaru'. The blossom period of 'Male 8' and two other androecious genotypes lasted respectively for 2 weeks and 10 days longer than 'Zenjimaru', overlapping the leading cultivar blooming. Pollen germination on 'Soshu' stigma was analysed through in vivo and in vitro microscope observation. The highest percentage of fruit set and average fruit weight were obtained by pollinating with 'Male 8'. The average seed number per fruit varied from 2 to 4. Fruit juice and skin color were also affected by the pollen donors. In addition, differences in flesh firmness, tannin content, Vc content, soluble solids content, titratable acid contented depended on treatments. SPSS and PCA analysis of the pollen donors revealed that 'Male 8' with stable androecy improved the fruit characteristics. The fruit yield and internal quality of 'Soshu' × 'Male 8' exceeded the results obtained from other pollen donors and open-pollination, although fruit quality could also be enhanced with other pollen sources. Thus, 'Male 8' must be considered as an important potential genetic resource as pollen donor for persimmon orchard production.