Effects of pistachio (P. vera L.) pollinator types selected in Ceylanpınar on fruit set and fruit quality of some pistachio cultivars

This study was carried out during 1998 - 2000 at Ceylanpinar State Farm's pistachio orchards and at Pistachio Research Institute experimental orchards in Gaziantep in 2001. The aim of this study was the determination of 9 different pistachio pollinators' effects on fruit set and fruit quality of Kırmızı, Siirt and Ohadi pistachio cultivars and investigation of fertilization biology of the selected pollinators and cultivars. Pure pollen was used in artificial pollination in 1998 and 1999. In 2000 and 2001 pollen and wheat flour was mixed to obtain 1%, 5%, 10%, 50% and 100% pollen mixture, and these pollen mixtures was used for artificial pollination. Pollen were tested in vitro by TTC viability and germination tests. Besides pollen mixtures, pollen application distances and receptivity practices; pollen number per 1 mm2 and pollen production were determined. To determine the effets of artificial pollination, fruit set, flower and fruit abscission, pollen tube growth, endosperm and embryo development, nut and kernel growth were investigated. On the other hand, porno logical (100 nut weight, nut and kernel dimensions and ratio), physical (splitting rate, filled and blank nut rates) and chemical analysis (fat and protein analysis) were applied. According to the results, the best pollinators for Kırmızı, Siirt and Ohadi pistachio cultivars were found to be; male 23, 7 and 18, respectively. Key Words : Pistacia vera, pistachio, fertilization biology, embryo development, fruit quality.