EFFECT OF POLLEN GRAIN SOURCES ON FRUIT SET AND RETENTION IN ‘SHAHI’ LITCHI

Abstract

The effect of self- and cross-pollination on fruit set and fruit retention in ‘Shahi’ litchi was investigated. The enclosed flower panicles were hand pollinated with male (M2) pollen from ‘Rose Scented’, ‘Swarna Roopa’, ‘Bedana’, ‘China’ and ‘Shahi’ flowers. The current season’s pollen and one year old pollen stored at 4 °C were used for pollination. The number of fruit set and fruit retention per panicle was determined throughout the fruit development period from fruit set to harvest on a weekly basis. Initial fruit set in ‘Shahi’ was lower with sources ‘Swarna Roopa’ and ‘Bedana’ compared to the self-pollination with ‘Shahi’. However, final fruit retention in ‘Shahi’ was higher with all sources used for cross-pollination whereas there was no fruit retention in self pollination. Results indicated that cross-pollination in ‘Shahi’ litchi is essential for fruit set and fruit retention. The limited number of initial fruit set resulted in high retention of fruits (19.29 % and 15.30%) in ‘Shahi’ with current season and one year old pollen of ‘Swarna Roopa’.