Gf. Mclaren et Ja. Fraser, POLLINATION COMPATIBILITY OF SUNDROP APRICOT AND ITS PROGENY IN THE CLUTHA SERIES, New Zealand journal of crop and horticultural science, 24(1), 1996, pp. 47-53
Flowers of the apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) cultivar, 'Sundrop' produ
ced low fruitset when self-pollinated or caged to exclude bees during
bloom. The level of fruit set improved when 'Sundrop' flowers were pol
linated with another cultivar, even when the pollen came from trees of
its own progeny(the 'Clutha' series). Levels of self-compatibility va
ried within the 'Clutha' series; seven selections were as self-compati
ble as one of their parents 'Moorpark' whereas six showed low self-com
patibility, similar to that of their other parent, 'Sundrop'. Comparis
on of tile flowering dates of these and other commercial cultivars whi
ch could be used as pollenisers showed that in four of the five years
'CluthaGold', 'CluthaStar', 'CluthaSun', and 'CluthaGem' all flowered
with 'Sundrop'. However, one year demonstrated the need to include an
earlier flowering polleniser for 'Sundrop'. Five of the six named 'Clu
tha' selections were compatible with 'Sundrop'; only lack of synchrony
of flowering will affect their value as potential pollenisers for thi
s cultivar. Three of the more commonly planted newer cultivars had low
self-compatibility-'Sundrop', 'CluthaGold', and 'Valleygold'-thus rev
ising the pollination status of apricot from a crop that does not requ
ire cross-pollination to one which generally does; care will be necess
ary in the planning of new plantings.