Study on flowering dynamic and fertilization properties of caraway and fennel

Individuals in different populations of caraway (Carum carvi L.) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) were studied in order to gain information on their fertilization properties. Eight characteristic stages of flowering were di stinguished and the results of free and artificial pollination trials were analysed. The flowering process of both species lasted about 25-30 days for each umbe l, where the later opening (higher range) umbels developed more slowly. In individuals of caraway, flowering dynamic of different range umbels, ass ured a perfect possibility for fertilization of the lower range umbels by t he upper range ones, because the main periods of flowering were in time ove rlapping. in consequence of the shown proterandry, pollination within the u mbel may occur only in exceptional cases (6-7%). Seed setting increases (up to 19%) using pollens of other umbels of the same individual, but the adva ntage of foreign pollen, either coming from the neighbouring plants, or dif ferent genotype is properly assured (44-46% seed setting). In fennel, flowering phases of the umbellules within the same umbel are not simultaneous. Thus, in contrary to caraway, flowering process of fennel as sures fertilization among the flowers of each single umbel. This was in har mony with the results of pollination trials, where seed setting by isolatio n of a single umbel reached 56%. Pollination treatments by pollens taken fr om neighbouring umbels or neighbouring plants, even from the individual of other genotype resulted in practically equal seed setting proportions (27-5 5%). The results demonstrated, that both inbreeding and hybridization (with cast ration) may be successful tools in genetical improvement of the two species .