A preliminary evaluation of the effects of pollinator enhancement and gibberellins on the fruit set and fruit shape of 'Conference' pears - Short Communication

‘Conference’ (Pyrus communis L.) is a self-incompatible cultivar, although it can also set fruit parthenocarpically. Stimulating parthenocarpy through gibberellin (GA) applications increases the fruit set, but it may also negatively affect the fruit size and shape. The aim of this study was to inves...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Horticultural science (Praha) 2020-01, Vol.47 (4), p.211-216
Main Authors: Smessaert, Jolien, Van Kemenade, Gaby, Arnoys, Anneleen, Honnay, Olivier, Keulemans, Wanness
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
bombus spp
Bumblebees
Cactus
Cultivars
Fruit set
Fruits
Gibberellins
Monoculture
Pears
phytohormones
polliniser trees
pyrus communis l
Supplements
Trees
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Summary:‘Conference’ (Pyrus communis L.) is a self-incompatible cultivar, although it can also set fruit parthenocarpically. Stimulating parthenocarpy through gibberellin (GA) applications increases the fruit set, but it may also negatively affect the fruit size and shape. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a bumblebee (BB) amendment in combination with a GA treatment on the fruit set and fruit shape of ‘Conference’ pears. In the first experiment, we applied three treatments (GA, GA + BB & control) in a ‘Conference’ monoculture. In the second experiment, we applied two treatments (GA & GA + BB) in a ‘Conference’ orchard inter-planted with ‘Concorde’ as pollinizer trees. Both experiments showed that the GA application and bumblebee supplementation did not affect the fruit set. However, the BB treatment resulted in significantly higher amounts of normally shaped pears. Trees closer to the bumblebee hive had more normal shaped pears than trees further away.
ISSN:0862-867X
1805-9333
DOI:10.17221/123/2019-HORTSCI