Determination of pollen quality, quantity and effect of cross pollination on the fruit set and quality in the pomegranate

This research was carried out to determine the pollen quality (pollen viability and germination), quantity (pollen production) and the role of cross pollination on the fruit set in Hicaz and 33 N 26 pomegranate cultivars under Adana ecological conditions in 1997. Pollen viability levels with TTC and FDA, pollen germination level with agar in the petri method, and pollen production capacity with the hemacytometric method of these cultivars were determined in both male (A type-unfertile) and bisexual (B type-fertile) flowers. In addition to these experiments, the changes in the fruit set and fruit quality in open-, self- and cross-pollination (with pollen taken from both bisexual and male flowers) were examined. These studies showed that the highest pollen viability and germination rate were obtained from male flowers of Hicaz (75.24% viability in TTC, 82.45% viability in FDA, 61.50% germination in 1% agar + 10% sucrose medium in agar plate method). Regarding pollen production capability per anther, the best results were obtained from male flowers (3055 pollen/anther in Hicaz, 2701 pollen/anther in 33 N 26). The rates of fruit set in self- and open pollination were found to be lower than those of cross-pollination.