Flower morphological characteristics in apricot cultivars

Abstract

Flower morphology in 24 apricot cultivars during three-year period was studied in order to determine the variation of individual properties, their value and possibility of use for cultivars identification. Flower diameter varied from 21 mm (Stella) to 33.5 mm (Selena). Six cultivars were found to have small flowers (below 25 mm), 15 medium (25 - 30 mm), and three large (above 30 mm). The shape of petals ranged from roundish-flat in cvs Precoce de Tytinthe, Polonais and Selena to elliptic in cv Stella. The shortest pistil was in cv Precoce de Tytinthe - 13.4 mm, and the longest one in cv Roxana - 19.9 mm. The average number of stamens was 30.3 with the variation among cultivars from 25.7 to 33.7. The position of stigma in the majority of cultivars is at the same level with anthers, whereas only in three cultivars (Polonais, Sulmona and Selena) it is above anthers. The biggest percentage of defective pistils was found in cvs Stella (37.8%) and Stark Early Orange (36.3%). Degree of anomalies of pistil was higher in auto incompatible cultivars. The frequency of double pistils was minor (1.4% in average). Among studied characteristics the lowest variation was found in stamen number, and the highest one in pistil length.

Morfološke osobine cveta proučavane su kod 24 sorte kajsije u periodu od tri godine (2001 - 2003. god.). Dužina tučka, dužina i širina kruničnih listića su pokazale veću varijabilnost, dok su broj prašnika, prečnik cveta i indeks oblika kruničnih listića stabilnije osobine, tako da imaju veći značaj za determinaciju sorti. Autoinkompatibilne sorte odlikuju se većim brojem defektnih tučkova.