Showing papers by "Thomas L. Davenport published in 1989"

Pollen Deposition on Avocado Stigmas in Southern Florida

Abstract: Additional index word., fruit set, Persea americana, pollination, pollinators, relative humidity Abstract. The percentage of stigmas bearing pollen were determined in flowers of avocado (Persea americana Mill.). Stigmas were harvested at the end of the first and second floral openings (functionally female and male, respectively) in several cultivars located at several locations in southern Florida. Generally, < 2% of the flowers were pollinated during the first opening of all observed cultivars. Due to the synchronously dichogamous flowering behavior of avocado, the source of this pollen was likely from interplanted complimentary cultivars (cross- pollination). Up to 15 times as many flowers received pollen during the second opening in some cultivars. The most likely source of this pollen was from within the same flowers. These preliminary observations suggest that self-pollination within avocado flowers during the second opening may be an important mechanism of avocado reproduction in the humid tropics.