Pollen Tube Growth and Embryo Sac Development in 'Pozna Plava' Plum Cultivar Related to Fruit Set

Abstract

A newly released, late ripening plum cultivar 'Pozna Plava' sets fruit poorly, although it produces high quality fruit. This study aimed to evaluate which factors in the reproductive process could be related to the lack of fruit set. In two consecutive years, establishment of a suitable polleniser and the stage of ovule development at anthesis as well as initial and final fruit set have been studied. In addition to this, the impact made by temperature fluctuations on the interaction between male gametophytes and female sporophytes was also analysed. Growth of the pollen tubes in the style and penetration into the nucellus as well as fruit set were more effective in cross-pollination than in open and self-pollination. A relative delay in ovule development was observed, and most ovules had an embryo sac with eight nuclei. Considering the results of the quantitative parameter study of pollen tube growth in the ovary as well as the results of the stage of ovule development, a conclusion can be made that this cultivar is characterised by an extremely short effective period of pollination.