SEED NUMBER AND CALCIUM CONCENTRATIONS OF BRAEBURN APPLE FRUIT

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.