Flower receptivity, pollen transfer and fruit set variations during a single flowering period of Cox’s Orange Pippin apple

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Abstract
Factors affecting the pollination and fruit set of the apple cv Cox’s Orange Pippin were monitored throughout a flowering period. Pollen germination was correlated with temperature in the 24 h following its deposition. Insect activity and pollen transfer were low when the weather was either cold or mild and wet. Compatible pollen transfer to individual flowers was concentrated into one or two days during anther dehiscence, but the amount transferred was weather dependent. Hand pollinations demonstrated the limitations imposed on fruit set by the short effective pollination period and flower sterility, and consequently the inability of supplementary pollination to raise fruit set above a modest level. The number and variability of flowering time factors affecting fruit-set are emphasized. Emasculating and depetalling reduced but failed to prevent pollen transfer; petalless flowers were highly attractive to bees during the latter part of the flowering period.

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