Pollination Studies in Almonds (Prunus Amygdalus Batsch) Growing Under Sub-Tropical Conditions I. Floral Biology

The pollination studies regarding floral biology were conducted in eleven almond cultivars growing under sub-tropical conditions. In all the cultivars the flower buds started swelling in the first week of February and reached anthesis after 15 to 25 days. On the base of flowering period, cultivars under study can be placed in three groups (a) early bloomer—H.P.S.-7, (b) mid-bloomer: Bruce, California Papershell, Hybrid-15, Jeori Selection II, Pethick's Wonder, Slob, and Stout's Papershell, and (c) late bloomers: Afghanistan Seedling, IXL and Ne-Plus-Ultra. The peak period of anthesis was from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The pollen viability was more than 70 per cent and germinability varied from 37.45 to 88.36 per cent. The stigmas remained receptive from one-day-before to one day-after anthesis under the local conditions.