In vitro investigations on pollen quality, production and self incompatibility of some apricot varieties in Malatya - Turkey

This research was conducted with 62 apricot varieties grown in Malatya Horticultural Research Institute in Turkey. Pollen viability levels with TTC (2, 3, 5 triphenyl tetrazolium chloride), germination rates with agar in petri dish method (0.6% agar + 15% sucrose medium), levels of pollen production with Hemacytometric method and pollen tube growth in style with squashed preparation method were determined. It was found that the variety of '31 K 03' has the highest viable pollen percentage (89.34%), while the lowest was obtained from 'Tokaloglu-Konya' (41.81%). Germinated pollen levels ranged from 34.66% ('Ablugoz') to 79.19% ('31 K 03'). As a result, pollen germination rates and viability levels are in good agreement with each other. Values of pollen production per flower were ranged from 31952 ('Mahmudun Erigi') to 132600 ('07 K 11'). Out of 62 cvs or types tested, 37 cvs or types were found to be self incompatible