Fruit and Seed Set of Half-High Blueberry Cultivars Following Repeated Pollinations at Varying Time Intervals

Abstract

Self pollinations were detrimental to the fertility of the blueberry cultivars St. Cloud, Northsky, and Northcountry compared to outcross pollination with ‘Northblue.’ Multiple self pollinations resulted in higher fruit set than single self pollinations. For ‘Northcountry,’ initial self pollinations negatively affected seed set from subsequent outcross pollinations performed up to 24 h later. With ‘St. Cloud’ and ‘Northsky,’ outcross pollen applied up to 24 h following an initial self pollination was apparently ‘outcompeting’ or preferentially fertilizing ovules. Variation in seed set among cultivars may have been due, in part, to differences in number of available ovules and timing of their receptivity.