Pollination Methods and Integrated Fertilizer Influenced the Pollination Rate, Fruit Development, and Quality of Cucumis melo L. under Greenhouse Conditions

This study was conducted to determine the effect of pollination methods (PMs) and integrated fertilizer (IF) application on the pollination rate, yield, and fruit quality of rockmelon (Cucumis melo L. var. Reticulatus cv. Glamour). This factorial experiment was arranged in a split plot design with four replications. Two rates of IF between chemical (CF) and organic (OF) fertilizer were investigated, namely, T1 (100% CF), which served as a control, and T2 (75% CF + 25% OF). The three PMs used in this study were natural (NP), bee (BP), and human (HP) pollination. Data collection included the pollination rate, yield, postharvest quality (soluble solids content, color, firmness, sugar, and organic acid), and macronutrient content in leaf tissue. The results of this study showed that there was an interaction of the pollination rate between PM and IF; however, the number of bees that survived decreased over time. The yield quality showed an interaction between PM and IF for both the fruit diameter and weight, while no interaction between PM and IF for the organic acid and sugar contents was observed. In conclusion, T2 application combined with BP reduced CF utilization, which benefits the development of a sustainable rockmelon production system.

Evaluation of morphological traits of flowers and crossing possibility of haskap (Lonicera L) cultivars depending on their origin

BACKGROUND: Haskap (Lonicera L.) is as a new perspective berry species for growing in temperate region climate. According to nowadays knowledge haskap is absolutely self-sterile species hence the studies on pollination mode are required. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate new haskap cultivars of Canadian and Russian origin in terms of their matching for cross-pollination. METHODS: The overlapping of flowering time of cultivars for mutual cross pollination was selected. The effectiveness of pollination was assessed: in terms of pollen tube overgrowth through the pistil tissue and the quality of set fruit. RESULTS: The Russian cultivars bloomed much earlier than the Canadian cultivars. The stigma is most receptive in the freshly open flower stage and directly after the anther burst. The minimum qualitatively acceptable weight of a berry is 1 g, which corresponds to the formation of about 6 seeds in the fruit. The most compatible pairs of cultivars were: ‘Aurora’בJugana’, ‘Aurora’בSinij Utes’ and ‘Aurora’בVostorg’. CONCLUSION: The Russian cultivars bloomed much earlier than the Canadian cultivars, the stigma is most receptive in the freshly open flower, minimum qualitatively acceptable weight of berry is 1 g (what represents 6 seeds in fruit), best mutual pollinating cultivars are the cultivars within the same breeding group (Russian x Russian and Canadian x Canadian)

Development and Verification of an Interspecific Hybridization Protocol for Asclepias

Milkweed (Asclepias sp.) is an important pollinator genus across North America and is a host plant for many butterfly species, notably the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Commercial production of Asclepias is limited to a few species, because most species lack commercial traits, with minimal branching habit, excessive height, and minimal color variation. This study used a commercially viable Asclepias species, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa L.), as a maternal parent and trialed three different pollination methods in an attempt to create interspecific hybrids. Pollination methods included a traditional method, a pollen–solution-based method, and a novel inverted pollinia method. The inverted pollinia method increased pollination success rates 4-fold among intraspecific crosses of A. tuberosa. When pollination methods were optimized, A. tuberosa was used as the maternal parent, and one-way crosses were made to seven other Asclepias species using the inverted pollinia method. Of the seven species used as pollen donors, four developed hybrid seed successfully: green milkweed (Asclepias hirtella Woodson), purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens L.), showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa Torr.), and common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.). As germination methods vary significantly among Asclepias species, three methods of germination were trialed on seed developed via interspecific hybridizations: direct seeded, cold–moist stratification, and embryo rescue. Of the three methods, cold–moist stratification was superior to direct seeding and embryo rescue. This research is the first documented case of a controlled interspecific hybridization event among these species.

Micromorphology and anatomy of the flower of Zephyranthes candida (Amaryllidaceae)

The use of morphological features of flowers in the taxonomy of plants is becoming increasingly important. The structure of the Zephyranthes candida (Lindl.) Herb. flowers on permanent cross-sectional and longitudinal sections was studied using a light microscope. The genus Zephyranthes belongs to the subtribe Hippeastrinae Walp. tribe Hippeastreae Sweet., family Amaryllidaceae s.l. Microscopic studies of the flower are considered as a tool to identify hitherto unknown structural adaptations of plants to specialized pollination methods and to elucidate the first stages of fruit morphogenesis, as many features of the fruit appear at the flower stage. The morphometric parameters, morphology, anatomy, and vascular anatomy of the ovary were described by using the flower’s transverse sections. Ten flowers of Z. candida were sectioned using standard methods of Paraplast embedding and serial sectioning at 20 μm thickness. Sections were stained with Safranin and Astra Blau and mounted in Eukitt. It was found that in the studied species the tepals have multi-bundle traces of 10–12 leading bundles. We consider the gynoecium of the studied species to be eusincarpous. The vascular system of the inferior ovary consists of three dorsal and three septal bundles, paired ventral bundles of carpels, which form ovule traces. For the first time, the presence of the following gynoecium zones was detected: a synascidiate structural zone with a height of about 360 μm and a fertile symplicate structural zone with a height of about 1560 μm and a hemisymplicate zone of 480 μm. Septal nectaries appear in the hemisymplicate zone and open with nectary split at the base of the style, the total height of the septal nectary is 760 μm. The ovary roof is 280 μm. Bifurcated dorsal and septal bundles of carpels have been identified, which can be considered as adaptations of the early stages of fruit morphogenesis to opening. Anatomical features of the ovary of Z. candida are numerous vascular bundles in the pericarpium, non-lignified endocarp at the flower stage, we consider as adaptations to the formation of juicy fruit. New data on the anatomical structure of the flower are a significant addition to the information on antecological and post-anthetic features of the studied species. Also, these data can be used in the construction of parsimony branches of the family Amaryllidaceae.

The Effect of Greenhouse Pollination Methods on Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Tomatoes in Japan

Since 2017, the Japanese government has been phasing out the use of non-native bumblebees as greenhouse tomato pollinators due to their ecological risks. We used an online questionnaire to investigate whether pollination methods affect consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for tomatoes. We found that consumers valued the use of non-native bumblebees more than hormonal treatment and native more than non-native bees. Moreover, we found that informing consumers of the ecological risks increased WTP for native bumblebees and hormonal treatment. These results suggest that pollination method labeling may help protect ecosystems from the threat of non-native species.

Date Palm Pollen: Features, Production, Extraction and Pollination Methods

Date palm pollen (DPP) plays a very important role in the fertilization process, since its viability and the pollination method influence on the quality, development, and yield of the fruit. In the present study, a broad review of its main characteristics, consumption, and DPP production are presented, as well as a description of its extraction methods and viability tests. The evolution of the pollination methods used in the date palm is also presented, from its natural pollination to the use of specialized mechanical and electrical devices, as well as the use of dry DPP and the current trend towards the use of DPP in liquid suspension. Likewise, the efficiency of the methods of natural pollination (wind); traditional (strands placement); dusting hand; dusting with manual, mechanical, or electric pollinator; and liquid pollination were evaluated from the fruit set percentage (FSP). Finally, starting from a scientometric analysis, the pollination methods were widely discussed, concluding that the dusting spraying of pollen suspension with liquid DPP is the pollination method that commonly presents the highest FSP, followed by dusting dry DPP with a motorized pollinator.

Genetic variability and selection criteria of some sunflower genotypes under different pollination methods

<p>To determinate self-compatible genotypes for increasing autogamy yielded, the ten sunflower genotypes were sown under four pollination methods i.e., open-, self-, hand- and sib-pollinations in a randomized complete block design replicated thrice at Kafr-El-Hamam Agricultural research Station, Sharkia Governorate, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt during 2018 and 2019 summer seasons. Significant variation existed for different pollination treatments, genotypes and their interactions for all studied traits. Among the treatments, open pollination followed by sibbing one was regarded as the best pollination treatment for head diameter, number of filled seeds per head, percentage of seed setting , kernel to hull ratio, seed mass per plant, seed yield per fed and seed oil content. Autogamy studies revealed that ‘L120’ followed by ‘L92’ and ‘L880’ recorded higher proportion of autogamy and self-compatibility. Preferred improvement of seed mass per plant may be achieved through selecting genotypes having the largest head diameter, bigger number of filled seeds per head, the highest proportion of seed setting and the heaviest seed, kernel and hull mass as proven by high phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation and high heritability coupled with high genetic advance (as % of mean) as well as correlation and path analyses at both phenotypic and genotypic levels.</p>