Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

The present investigation was conducted at a demonstration farm of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Shopian. The study reveals two years data (2021 & 2022) under open pollination and planned hand pollination to increase the quality and productivity of apple. There are issues in proper pollination due to non availability of proper pollinizer plant ratio in the orchards and lack of pollinators as well in Kashmir valley. The experiment was conducted on eleven apple varieties to carry out the trial on open pollination and planned hand pollination to see the pollen compatibility and effects of pollen source on fruit quality. Under open pollination conditions, the maximum average fruit weight (161.06 and 163.34g) was observed in Oregon spur and the minimum average fruit of 120.01 and 123.55g weight recorded in Royal Gala during the years of study. Under planned hand pollination, the maximum fruit weight of 150.31 and 152.57g was noticed in ‘Gala Must x Red Gold’. The minimum fruit weight of 123.50 and 121.43g observed in ‘Gala Must x Early Red One’ cross combination. Under open pollination, the maximum average fruit length of 9.20 and 9.38cm has been observed in Oregon spur and the least length of fruits (5.42 and 5.73 cm) noticed in the Braeburn cultivar. Under planned cross pollination, the maximum fruit length of 8.78 and 9.27cm was observed in ‘Gala Must x Golden Delicious’ and a minimum fruit length of 6.57 and 6.76cm was noticed in cross combination ‘Gala Must x Red Gravenstein. Under open pollination, Gala Must recorded a maximum average fruit diameter of 9.73 and 9.93cm, and a minimum fruit diameter of 6.63 and 6.85cm was noticed in Braeburn cultivar. Under planned hand pollination, the maximum diameter of fruits (9.68 and 9.91cm) recorded in ‘Gala Must x Golden Delicious’ and minimum diameter of fruits (7.38 and 7.85cm) was noticed in ‘Gala Must x Red Gravenstein' combinations, during both the years 2021 and 2022, respectively. The results of the study shows that pollinizer varieties Gala Must, Oregon Spur, Golden Delicious and Red Gold, when used as pollen donors have positively influenced the quality of apple under the desired pollination plan.