INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOLOGY, cilt.14, sa.3, ss.425-429, 2012 (SCI-Expanded)
This study was carried out to establish pollen production, viability and germination ratios for five almond genotypes of Amygdalus orientalis Mill. (Orientalis 5, Orientalis 6, Orientalis 7, Orientalis 9 & Orientalis 10) and four cultivars of Prunus dulcis Mill., (Nonpareil, Texas, Ferragnes & Ferraduel). For determination of pollen viability of selected almond genotypes, 2.3.5 Triphenyltetrazolium chloride and Fluorescent diacetat tests were made. Pollen germination ratios in vitro conditions were determined with petri dishes methods. For A. orientalis genotypes, pollen viability ratios according to the TTC test were found to be 61.80% and 72.88% in 2006 and 2007, respectively whereas the same ratios according to the FDA test carried out in 2006 and 2007 were 63.44% and 57.50%, respectively. The number of anthers in one flower, the number of pollen in one anther and the number of pollen in one flower were found higher in cultivars, whereas these traits turned out to be lower in A. orientalis genotypes. 'Orientalis 6' was notable pollen viability, the number of anthers in one flower, the number of pollen in one anther and the number of pollen in one flower, while the highest pollen germination percentage was recovered from 'Orientalis 9' had in 2006 and from 'Orientalis 5' in 2007. Morphological homogeneity (%) was found to be high in all orientalis types both experimental years. The results obtained with A. orientalis genotypes proved that they could well be employed as pollinizer for hybrid improving work to be made with almond cultivars. (C) 2012 Friends Science Publishers