Evaluation of Pollen Source on Sexual Compatibility and Fruit Set in Certain Apricot Cultivars Under the Climate of Assiut Governorate

This study examined the self-compatibility and cross-compatibility or incompatibility among three four-year-old apricot tree cultivars (Amal, Haid, and Solitaire) grafted onto Nemguard peach rootstock. The research was conducted under the climatic conditions of Assiut, on sandy soil at a private farm in Assiut Governorate, Egypt, over two successful seasons (2021/2022 and 2022/2023). Initial and final fruit set percentages were nearly different in the three studied cultivars, but Haid was superior to the others. Generally, it could be concluded that Haid, Amal apricot cultivars, respectively, could be the higher-yielding cultivars under Egyptian conditions, due to most of the pollen grains germinating on the stigma surface one day afterward pollination, and they grew to the end of ⅓ of the style 4 days after pollination, resulting in high fruit set. On the other hand, the Solitaire cultivar is reported to be self-incompatible. So, we can nominate Haid's cv. As a self-compatible and good pollenizer for Amal and Solitaire apricot cvs.