The effects of high and low pollen availability on seed number and cal
cium content of 'Braeburn' apples have been investigated. Fruit were p
icked from trees either with or without a nearby pollen source, or fro
m trees without a nearby pollen source but which had been hand-pollina
ted. With increasing distance from pollinizer trees fruit had lower se
ed numbers, increased misshapenness, lower calcium concentrations and
increased incidence of bitter pit and lenticel blotch. Hand-pollinatio
n resulted in fruit with characteristics similar to those with a nearb
y pollen source. Lower seed numbers and greater misshapenness of fruit
were associated with early flowering, inner zones of the tree. Low ca
lcium contents were associated with low seed numbers, but only in rela
tion to pollinizer treatments and trees. The results suggest that ther
e is a general affect of poor pollination resulting in low seed number
and low calcium content in cv. Braeburn.