Pollen grain germination and fruit set in 'Brazilian seedless' sugar apple (Annona squamosa L.)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate fruit set and pollen grain germination of 'Brazilian seedless' sugar apple. Two experiments were performed: 1) one in a completely randomized design with three treatments (natural and artificial pollination and self-fertilization), with three replications of 10 flowers per plot, 2) and the other in a completely randomized design with three treatments: pollen grains of a seeded wild-type, 'Brazilian seedless' and atemoya (hybrid of sugar apple and cherimoya) 'Gefner', with five replications. A fruit set of 100% was achieved by artificial pollination. No fruit formation was observed after self-fertilization. The percentage of pollen grain germination in vitro was highest for 'Brazilian seedless' (52.5%) and lowest for cultivar Gefner (5.9%). Preliminary results indicated that pollen grains of 'Brazilian seedless' are viable and that natural or artificial pollination is essential for fruit set.