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Low levels of fruit set were measured in a commercial almond [Prunus amygdalus Batsch, syn. Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] orchard during 3 years. Low sets may be attributed mostly to orchard design, as cultivars are distributed in contiguous rows where pollen interchange among different cultivars is not facilitated. An appropriate orchard design and proper bee management are essential for commercial yields in self-incompatible almond cultivars.
Abstract
Pollen tube growth in a self-compatible almond [Prunus amygdalus Batsch, syn. P. dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] selection was similar both after self- and crosspollinations either at 12° and 22°C, showing its genetic self-compatibility. Natural fruit set in the field with open pollination was 14.1% (1984) and 21.3% (1985). This percentage set, considered low for almond, resulted in a full commercial crop because of the very high bloom density of this selection. A 70% reduction in the number of flowers in 1984 did not reduce the number of fruit set significantly. Fruit set in the field after hand-pollination was significantly lower with self-pollination (18.3%) than with crosspollination (25.7%). The receptive stigma and dehiscing anthers are in close proximity, thus facilitating self-pollination.