INFLUENCIA DE LA FUENTE DE POLEN Y SU EFECTIVIDAD EN LA CALIDAD DE FRUTOS DE CHIRIMOYA (Annona cherimola MILL.).

The influence of the pollen source and the time of hand pollination on fruit set and fruit quality were evaluated in 3 cultivars of cherimoya: 'Campas', (Californ) 'White' and 'Bonita' (Spain). Artificial self-pollination and cross-pollination (pollen unmixed) were performed in each cultivar, at 3 different times of day (07:00-09:00, 10:00-12:00 and 18:00-20:00 h), using the brush technique. In all cultivars, the percentage of fruit set with natural pollination was low (5 to 10%). Self-pollination treatment was the less efficient, especially in 'Bonita' (47.90%). Conversely, when 'Bonita' was used as pollen parent, fruit set percentage was significantly high in 'Campas' (85.83%) and 'White' (87.40%). Furthermore, the source of pollen had a significant effect, increasing fruit weight, number of seeds, seed weight, pulp weight and symmetry in the 3 cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]