Variety traits

Self-fertility in European plum

Prunus domestica L. subsp. domestica

The ability of a Prunus domestica cultivar to set fruit when pollinated with its own pollen. This trait is key to ensuring stable yields and enabling the establishment of single-cultivar commercial orchards.

In the reference 19 varieties crop Plum, where this is mentioned in the description.

To assess the level of self-fertility in Prunus domestica, the method of flower isolation during the blooming period is used, followed by a comparison of fruit set percentages between self-pollination and open pollination. Additionally, a morphometric indicator—the ratio of the number of stamens to pistil length—is used, which is typically lower in self-fertile cultivars than in self-sterile ones. Laboratory research involves fluorescence microscopy of pollen tubes, although molecular genetic identification is complicated by the hexaploid genome of the species.

Plum cultivars are categorized into self-fertile, partially self-fertile, and self-sterile, with fruit set percentages under favorable pollination conditions ranging from 10% to 20%. Although self-fertility reduces dependence on weather conditions and pollinator activity, it is recommended to plant pollinizer cultivars with overlapping blooming periods in orchards to increase productivity.

General information about the subject — on the page Self-fertility.

Sources8

Varieties of Plum mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.

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Prunus domestica L. subsp. domestica · Plum

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