Selection of pollinators for promising large­fruited varieties of sweet cherry Cerasus avium (L.) Moenh in Forest­Steppe conditions

Abstract

Purpose. Selection of effective pollinators for promising large­fruited sweet cherry varieties in the Forest­Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, laboratory and analytical methods were used in the research. Pollen viability and self­fertility were determined in 29 varieties of different ripening periods. Pollinators were selected for the group of medium­late and late varieties (‘Krupnoplidna’, ‘Talisman’, ‘Stark Hardy Giant’, ‘Anons’, ‘Temporion’, ‘Zodiak’, ‘Annushka’, ‘Anshlah’ and ‘Regina’). The surveys were carried out in accordance with the approved scientific and methodological recommendations. Results. In the group of early varieties, the highest pollen quality (77.9%) was produced by ‘Valerii Chkalov’; among the varieties of medium ripening period – ‘Talisman’ (control) (87.3%), ‘Yaroslavna’ (78.8%) and ‘Melitopolska Myrna’ (86.7%); medium late and late – ‘Drogan’s grosse gelbe’, ‘Kordia’, ‘Regina’, ‘Zodiac’ and ‘Annushka’ (80.9–88.0%). A full crop of all the varieties studied can only be guaranteed under the condition of cross­pollination. The highest level of fruit set (47.9–56.1%) in ‘Talisman’, ‘Temporion’, ‘Stark Hardy Giant’ and ‘Anshlah’ was due to pollen of ‘Krupnoplidna’. Conclusions. The versatility of ‘Donchanka’ as a pollinator was revealed. When it was used, fruit set in relation to free pollination was 111.2–148.8%. ‘Krupnoplidna’ and ‘Stark Hardy Giant’ proved to be mutual pollinators and effective pollinators for the vast majority of varieties. The variety ‘Regina’ was best pollinated by ‘Donchanka’ and ‘Drogan’s grosse gelbe’ with fruit set of 24–26.6% and 134.8–149.4% respectively compared to the control.