Comparative study of pollinizers and commercial cultivar of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.)

In the study eight pollinizer cultivars were tested on main cultivar Red Delicious. Studies on flowering, pollen viability of the pollinizers as well as main cultivar Red Delicious were compared using RBD, with nine treatments, comprises of eight pollinizers and one main cultivar, which were replicated in three replications. In different apple pollinizers and main cultivar, the flower bud initiation in the years 2002 and 2003 were started on 22^nd March and 20^th March, respectively and subsequent flowering from 19^th April in 2002 and 17^th April in 2003. In both the years, the flowering in all the pollinizer cultivars occurred almost one week before and was completed along with the main cultivar Red delicious. Thus, a good synchronization of blooming was observed in almost all the pollinizers with respect to the Red Delicious The mean bloom density varied from 37.97% (Golden Spur) to 83.34% (Snowdrift). The time of peak anthesis and anther dehiscence were observed at 11 hours and 14 hours, respectively. All the pollinizers and main cultivar (Red Delicious) produced higher viable pollen (88.10% to 95.46%), showing good germination percentage (74.95% to 93.85%) in 10% sucrose solution. High pollen viability and germination in different pollinizer cultivars may be attributed to pollen fertility as a result of regular meiosis and activation of certain enzyme systems present in the pollen itself.