Functional pollen ability of different crab apples used as pollinizers for apple

Abstract

The present study entitled “Functional pollen ability of different crab apples used as pollinizers for apple” was carried out during the year 2014-2015 in Division of Fruit Science SKUAST-K, Jammu and Kashmir. Four crab apple species (Malus floribunda, Golden Hornet, Manchurian and Fenna) and Golden Delicious (control), used as pollinizers in the valley, were studied for functional pollen ability. The experiment was laid in RCBD design with four replications. Among the pollinizers, Malus floribunda was significantly superior from others with the highest pollen viability (99.00%) and pollen germination (63.50%) followed by Golden Hornet (98.75% pollen viability) and (58.50%) pollen germination. The lowest pollen germination percentage of 53.50 was found in Golden Delicious. Highest pollen production per flower was noted in Malus floribunda (123750) and lowest (45000) in Manchurian. Malus floribunda was found best pollinizer among all the crabs.