POLLEN VITALITY, GERMINATION CONDITIONS AND POLLEN TUBE LENGHT INVESTIGATION OF HYBRID APRICOT GENOTYPES

Abstract

Also the fruit productivity of apricot trees are influenced by infertility, incompatibility or environmental factors, it is effected by pollen viability and germination characteristics. In this study pollen vitality of 89 F1 plants of “Paviot” and “Levent” genotype were located; pollen tube lengths and germination percent were determined by in vitro germination test. Pollen vitality ratios and germination percent of F1 plants were statistically found to be distinctive. In Paviot genotype vital pollen ratio was higher than Levent genotype, and in hybrid genotype pollen vitality was found to be 21.8-81.3%. Likewise pollen germination ratios were for Paviot genotype 84.8%, Levent genotype 54.7% and pollen tube lengths were 107 um for the former and 76.3 um for the latter. Pollen germination rate for F1 genotype was documented between 11.4-96.3% and the individual plant with the longest pollen tube was PL-074 (152.7 um) and shortest pollen tube was PL-021 (25.7um). The highest pollen viability and germination rate were determined for PL-068 and PL-074 genotypes. It shows that these genotypes could be used successfully as pollinators in breeding programs because of their fruit weights, TSS rates and yields.