Effect of pollen parent and stages of flower development on almond nut production

Abstract

Pollination of the Nonpareil almond cultivar at 6 successive stages (days) of flower development showed that flowers are more fertile when newly opened than at other stages of development. This occurred using pollen from 17 almond cultivars. Pollen from IXL Seedling was incompatible with Nonpareil. Pollen from 8 cultivars was compared for proportion of pollinated Nonpareil flowers setting nuts and for quality of nuts produced. There were significant differences in proportion of flowers setting nuts, but no significant differences in physical and chemical traits of nuts produced. Pollen from cvv. Peerless, Fritz, Keane, and Price set highest numbers of nuts; Grant, Mission, and Ne Plus Ultra set intermediate numbers; and Carmel set the lowest numbers on Nonpareil. Comparing 5 pollen donors on cvv. Price and Keane female recipients, pollen from Keane produced nuts on Price that were significantly heavier than the others. Pollen donors did not influence kernel weight of nuts set on Keane. Ne Plus Ultra pollen was incompatible with Price.