EFFECTS OF HAND POLLINATION ON FRUIT SET AND FRUIT QUALITY OF THE FEIJOA (ACCA SELLOWIANA).

The effects of hand and open pollination (ornithophily) on feijoa fruit development were compared. In the cultivar Apollo, fruit set, fruit quality (fruit weight and endocarp (pulp) weight), and seed number were all higher with hand pollination, while the length of time from flowering to fruit maturity was shortened. Fruit shape was unaffected by pollination treatment. Mature fruit from the two treatments had similar soluble solids content. Pollen from the cultivars Gemini, Triumph, and Mammoth promoted similar fruit development when used to hand pollinate Apollo flowers. Fruit size distribution was affected by pollination treatment and the proportion of fruit suitable for commercial use was much greater when flowers were hand pollinated. The assumption that bird pollination alone is effective for commercial feijoa production is discussed.