The Effect of Pollination Bag Type on Fruit Set and Quality in Pecan Hybridization

Abstract

Different pollination bag types were investigated in controlled crosses in pecan to determine their effect on internal bag temperatures, nut set, and nut quality. Bag types examined included white and brown paper bags, cellulose casings, and polyester fruit breeding bags. Brown paper bags and large white paper bags had the least internal heat buildup during the daylight hours. No differences were detected among bag types for the number of nuts produced per cluster. While some bag types produced smaller nuts, all nuts were of suitable quality for breeding purposes. This research indicates that white paper bags may be a useful substitute for the cellulose sausage casings that have traditionally been used in pecan breeding.