POLLINATION IN JAPANESE PLUM

Abstract

Efficient pollination is fundamental for guaranteeing adequate productivity in Japanese plum. Total gametophytic self-incompatibility distinguishes all cultivars of this pomological group and makes it necessary to plant suitable pollinizers able to guarantee an adequate production of fertile pollen during anthesis. Based on studies carried out over more than a decade at the Horticulture Department, University of Florence (DOFI), observations of numerous cultivars and genotypes obtained from crosses have revealed the main characteristics required for a good pollinizer include elevated production of flowers, long anthesis period which is stable from year to year, scalar flowering, abundant pollen production, high viability and fertility of pollen grains corresponding to high germinability. It is also important that the good pollinizers show interfertility with the majority of widespread cultivars and that their flowers are very attractive to pollinating insects.