The Pollen Receptivity Period and its Relation to Fruit Setting in the Stone Fruits

Abstract

There is little information in the literature pertaining to the length of time after anthesis that flowers of the stone fruits remain receptive to pollen. The available information indicates that receptivity decreases rapidly after anthesis. Bradbury (1), in Wisconsin, noted that the stigmas turned brown and began to wither 3 to 4 days after anthesis in Prunus cerasus. Eaton (23, working in Ohio and Ontario, found that the proportion of functional embryo sacs decreased rapidly after anthesis in Windsor sweet cherry (Prunus avium). He obtained a much higher rate of fertilization from pollinations 1 day after anthesis than from pollinations 2 days after anthesis.