Phyisco-chemical parameters of some exotic cultivars of apple affected by pollen source

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted in the Experimental fields of Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, UT of J&K during the year 2018. The experiment consisted of three exotic cultivars of apple grafted on M9-T337 clonal rootstock of uniform age and growth viz. Gala Redlum, Fuji Zehn Aztec and Super Chief Sandidge were taken as female parent. Female cultivars were cross pollinated with six compatible pollinizers viz. Gala Redlum, Fuji Zehn Aztec, Super Chief Sandidge, Lal Ambri, Golden Clone-B and Red Gold. The design of experiment was RCBD with three replications. Observations were recorded on physical and biochemical parameters of the fruits. Cross combinations of Super Chief Sandidge x Red Gold registered maximum fruit length (7.24 cm), fruit weight (195.33 g), fruit volume (180.79 cm3 ), seed number (9.26), total soluble solids (14.10oB), reducing sugar (10.48 %), total sugar (12.54 %) and minimum acidity (0.15 %) whereas maximum fruit diameter (7.44 cm) and fruit firmness (8.79 kg/cm2 ) was recorded in Fuji Zehn Aztec x Red Gold. No effect of pollen source was observed on female varieties and Gala Redlum and Super Chief Sandidge showed conical and Fuji Zehn Aztec was Globose in fruit shape. Red Gold and Golden Clone B proved to be the best pollen source for all the cultivars under study in terms of physic-chemical parameters.