Embryo-sac development in pollinated and non-pollinated flowers of two apricot cultivars

Abstract

SummaryThe development of the embryo-sac was studied from anthesis to 10 d later in two apricot cultivars, Gitano and Velázquez Fino. In pollinated and non-pollinated flowers, megagametophyte development was very similar until 6 d after anthesis, although afterwards it was slightly slower in pollinated flowers of both cultivars. Over the whole period, 11.6% and 16.5% of ovules from ‘Velázquez Fino’ and ‘Gitano’ respectively were malformed. The percentage of mature ovules in both cultivars reached its maximum 10 d after anthesis. Considering the approximate time that pollen tubes need to reach the ovules, factors other than ovule degradation had to be limiting the amount of fruit set.