POLLEN/STIGMA INTERCOMPATIBILITY BETWEEN DIFFERENT AVOCADO CULTIVARS

Pollination in avocados have been studied by various authors in different countries, but very little information is available on the situation in South Africa, especially about pollen/stigma interactions of different cultivars. In reciprocal, in vitro hand-pollinations between three different cultivars done at Westfalia Estate, we could confirm previous statements that avocados are natural out breeders, but poor self-pollinators. 'Fuerte E' proved to be the best pollen donor for 'Ettinger', while 'Fuerte A' was the best pollen donor for 'Hass'. 'Ettinger' was the best "all rounder" pollen parent and also gave the best results with 'Fuerte A' and 'Fuerte E'. Results obtained from open-pollinated flowers collected over a period of one month, indicate that fruit set is restricted to a few "favourable" days per month. OPSOMMING Bestuiwing by avokado's is deur verskeie outeurs in verskillende lande ondersoek, maar daar bestaan nog bale min inligting oor die situasie in SuidAfrika, veral ten opsigte van die stuifmeel/stempel interaksies van verskillende kultivars. A/a resiproke, in vitro handbestuiwings wat tussen drie verskillende kultivars op Westfalia Landgoed uitgevoer is kon ons vorige uitsprake bevestig dat avokado's natuurlike uittelers, maar swak selfbestuiwers is. 'Fuerte E' was die beste stuifmeelouer vir 'Ettinger' terwyl 'Fuerte A' die beste stuifmeelouer vir 'Hass' was. 'Ettinger' was die beste "algemene" stuifmeelouer en het ook die beste resáltate met 'Fuerte A' en '-E' gelewer. Resultate met oopbestuifde blomme wat oor 'n tydperk van een maand versamel is, dui daarop dat vrugset slegs tot enkele "gunstige" dae per maand beperk is.