High temperature effects on cherimoya fruit set, growth and development under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

The effects of warm (30/25°C) and cool (20/15°C) day/night temperatures on fruit set and fruit growth of potted cherimoya ( Annona cherimola Mill.) trees were investigated under sunlit glass-house conditions. Pollen germination percentage was adversely affected by warm temperatures. Fruit set at warm temperatures was very low, ascribed to both pollen and stigmatic damage from heat stress, although the former was more sensitive to warm temperatures than female organs. Fruit at warm temperatures grew slowly and required more days to mature than those at cool temperatures. Warm temperatures reduced fruit growth rates at the initial and final growth stages. The intervening growth deceleration period was longer at warm temperatures. Warm temperatures produced asymmetrical and small fruit containing a small number of seeds, caused by low-viability pollen. Temperature had no significant effect on the total soluble solid content in fruit.