Studies on pollination, chemical emasculation and sexual compatibility between some mango cultivars.
Nariman A. E. N., Abou-Rawash M., El-Masry H., Sanaa E.
Author Affiliation: Dept. of Horticulture, Fac. Agric., Ain Shams Univ., Shoubra El-Kheima, Cairo, Egypt.
Annals of Agricultural Science (Cairo) 42 : 557-571
Abstract : The effect of chemical emasculation (with Ethrel [ethephon], GA3, Nevirol (phthalanilic acid) or promalin (BA [benzyladenine] + GA4+7)) of Taimour mango flowers on pollen and pistil viability as well as the effect of self and open pollination on fruit set were studied in order to find out an effective pollenizer for Taimour mangoes. Spraying panicles with promalin (5 ppm) or Nevirol (100 ppm) at the balloon stage were the most effective treatments for chemical emasculation of flowers. The cv. Pairi was the best pollenizer of Taimour mangos. Germination of Zebda pollen on Taimour stigma was poor and the pollen tubes grew slowly. Partial incompatibility was observed when Taimour flowers were pollinated with Hindi pollen. Self pollination of Taimour revealed a degree of self incompatibility where pollen tubes showed terminal plugs and failed to reach the end of the style. The highest fruit set was observed following treatment with promalin (5 or 10 ppm) followed by pollination with Pairi pollen; open and self pollination showed the lowest fruit set. Pollen tubes of Pairi, Hindi and Zebda grew in Taimour styles at different rates and reached the style base 4-6 days after pollination.