EFFECT OF POLLEN PARENT AND STAGES OF FLOWER DEVELOPMENT ON ALMOND NUT PRODUCTION

Pollination of the Nonpareil almond cultivar at 6 successive stages (d ays) of flower development showed that flowers are more fertile when n ewly opened than at other stages of development. This occurred using p ollen from 17 almond cultivars. Pollen from IXL Seedling was incompati ble with Nonpareil. Pollen from 8 cultivars was compared for proportio n of pollinated Nonpareil flowers setting nuts and for quality of nuts produced. There were significant differences in proportion of flowers setting nuts, but no significant differences in physical and chemical traits of nuts produced. Pollen from cvv. Peerless, Fritz, Keane, and Price set highest numbers of nuts; Grant, Mission, and Ne Plus Ultra set intermediate numbers; and Carmel set the lowest numbers on Nonpare il. Comparing 5 pollen donors on cvv. Price and Keane female recipient s, pollen from Keane produced nuts on Price that were significantly he avier than the others. Pollen donors did not influence kernel weight o f nuts set on Keane. Ne Plus Ultra pollen was incompatible with Price.