Effect of Pollen Grain and Pollination Period on Fruit Set in Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

Abstract

The effective pollination period (EPP) was studied in three litchi cultivars. viz. Shahi, China and Bedana, with the objective of evaluating the best time of pollination for all cultivars involved in hybridization. The pollen grains of the previous season stored at low temperature (−20 °C) along with fresh pollen grains collected during the current season were used in the present study for pollination. Results revealed that the EPP reported in Shahi, China and Bedana were 6–7 AM, 6–8 AM and 7–9 AM, respectively. Though maximum fruit set was obtained in Shahi × Bedana and China × Bedana using fresh pollen grains (0.24 to 0.81%), an appreciable amount of fruit set was also obtained from the old stored pollen grains (0.23 to 0.52%).