THE INFLUENCE OF ACCELERATED FLOWER DEVELOPMENT ON POLLEN QUALITY IN SWEET CHERRY

The effect of accelerated flower development on sweet cherry pollen quality was studied in three cultivars. Pollen germination rates did not differ by cultivar. Flowers forced at the delayed-dormant stage (about 35 days prior to natural full bloom) had significantly reduced pollen germination rates when averaged across cultivars. Depending on development stage, pollen from the fully open flowers had the highest pollen germination rates, followed by half and unopen flowers.