Effect of pollinators on fruit set, fruit size and seed numbers of Early Imperial and Ellendal mandarins

Abstract

At Mildura, Victoria, fruit set and fruit size of two mandarin cultivars Early Imperial (C. reticulata Blanco) and Ellendale (C. reticulata X C. sinensis (L) Osbeck) were improved when randomly selected twigs were hand cross-pollinated. Pollinators used with Early Imperial mandarin (1966-67) were mandarin cultivars Emperor and Ellendale. In comparison with self pollinated twigs, both pollinators more than doubled percentage set and mean seed number and increased fruit size. Pollinators used with Ellendale mandarin (1967-68) were the mandarin cultivars Early Imperial and Emperor, and Valencia orange (C. sinensis (L) Osbeck). All cross pollinators quadrupled percentage set, more than doubled seed number and increased fruit size.