Year-to-year variation in the developmental stage of the embryo sac at anthesis in flowers of apricot (Prunus armeniacaL.)

SummaryExamination over several years of the stage of development of ovules at anthesis in eight cultivars of apricot reveals that, in the mild Mediterranean climate of Murcia, ovules are late in developing in comparison with other species. Frequently, ovules were found where there was no sign of the embyro sac. Sacs with two or four nuclei are very scarce and ovules with the egg cell differentiated were hardly found. Although flowers were collected at the same external stage of development, there were substantial differences in the degree of embryo sac development.