Investigation of Pollen Tube Growth and Embryo Development in Olive
Abstract
Olive is one of the most important fruit tree species worldwide, yet it frequently encounters fruit set problems caused by factors such as sexual incompatibility, climatic conditions, and alternate bearing. In this study, the effectiveness of cross pollination of three cultivars and how embryo development varies among cultivars in fruits obtained as a result of open pollination conditions in these cultivars were determined. As a result of this study, it was determined that pollen tubes reached the ovules within 2–3 days after pollination in all cultivars evaluated, indicating that there was no significant incompatibility problem among them. Embryo development stages showed that the zygote started to divide as of the 2nd week in whole cultivars and Domat showed faster development than Gemlik and Sarı Ulak olive varieties. In the examinations, it was determined that problems may be encountered in the ovaries of the Sarı Ulak variety in some cases, and these problems were thought to be related to the first signs of parthenocarpic fruit formation. However, this situation needs to be examined in more detail. As a result, it was determined that there was no self-incompatibility between Domat, Gemlik and Sarı Ulak varieties used in the experiment, and embryo development occurred regularly in the orchard where these varieties were found together. In this context it is thought that the critical embryo development periods obtained are also important in terms of the timing of maintenance operations.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
ANKARA ÜNİVERSİTESİ
Project Number
18L0447008
Ethical Statement
Ethical approval is not required for this study because the study was conducted on plants.
References
- Arzani, K., & Javady, T. (2002). Study of flower biology and pollen tube growth of mature olive tree cv. ‘Zard’. Acta Horticulturae, 586, 545–548.
- Bradley, M. V., Griggs, W. H., & Hartmann, H. T. (1961). Studies on self- and cross-pollination of olives under varying temperature conditions. California Agriculture, 15(3), 4–5.
- Bradley, M. V., & Griggs, W. H. (1963). Morphological evidence of incompatibility in Olea europaea L. Phytomorphology, 13, 141–156.
- Cuevas, J. (1992). Pollen-pistil incompatibility, gametic processes and fruiting of olive cultivars (Olea europaea L.) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Córdoba].
- Cuevas, J., & Polito, V. S. (1997). Compatibility relationships in ‘Manzanilla’ olive. HortScience, 32(6), 1056–1058.
- Distefano, G., Caruso, M., La Malfa, S., Gentile, A., & Tribulato, E. (2009). Histological and molecular analysis of pollen–pistil interaction in Clementine. Plant Cell Reports, 28(9), 1439–1451.
- Dölek-Gencer, C., Özkaya, M. T., Eti, S., & Karabıyık, Ş. (2023). Evaluation of the effect of open-, self- and cross pollinations on fruit set in Domat, Gemlik and Sarı Ulak olive cultivars. Scientia Horticulturae, 311, Article 111780.
- Eti, S. (1991). Determination of pollen viability and germination capacity in some fruit species and cultivars using different in vitro tests. Journal of Agricultural Faculty of Çukurova University, 6(1), 69–80.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Horticultural Production (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
January 21, 2026
Submission Date
September 17, 2025
Acceptance Date
December 7, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: 1
