FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS IN BAGGED AND OPEN BRANCHES OF'FRANCOLI' AND 'GUARA' SELF- COMPATIBLE ALMOND CULTIVARS

Fruit set and fruit characteristics were evaluated in two self-compatible almond cultivars, ‘Francolí’ and ‘Guara’, during two years (2008 to 2009). Studies were carried out in two of IRTA’s experimental orchards: Mas de Bover (Tarragona) with Mediterranean climate and Les Borges Blanques (Lleida) with continental climate. Before bloom, some branches of ‘Francolí’ and ‘Guara’ were bagged (self-pollination), and some others were marked as a control (open-pollination). The number of flowers on two types of branches was noted. Bags were removed after bloom. Fruits from each branch were collected in mid August and were characterized by weight (individually and by branches), length, width, and thickness of nuts and kernels. Nearly 400 fruits from each cultivar and each pollination type were analyzed each year. No significant differences in fruit set were found between bagged and open branches for either cultivar. While both cultivars had only small differences in fruit characteristics, these were not in the same characters. Each cultivar responds differently to the pollination method.