Abstract
For stable production of the interspecies hybrid ‘Sumomoume’ (Prunus salicina Lindl. × P. mume Sieb. et Zucc.), a self-incompatible haplotype (S-haplotype) and appropriative pollinizers were examined. The S-haplotype of ‘Sumomoume’ was thought to originate from Simon plum (P. simonii Carr.) and Japanese apricot (P. mume Sieb. et Zucc.). Simon plum is a species closely related to Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.), and these are able to cross mutually. Therefore, there should be cross compatibility with Japanese plum and Japanese apricot plum in ‘Sumomoume’ irrespective of these haplotypes. In this study, we determined appropriate pollinizers for ‘Sumomoume’. In fact, high levels of fruit set were obtained when ‘Sumomoume’ was artificially pollinated with Japanese apricot, Japanese plum and apricot (P. armeniaca L.). Japanese apricot ‘Miyagutikoume’ and apricot ‘Heiwa’ were the most suitable pollen donors in terms of the pollen quantity, pollen germination ability and cross-compatibility. These results suggest that the percentage of fruit set increased on artificial pollination using these pollen sources.
