Cross Pollination of Fruit Trees
Cross-pollination is an important agent of biological diversity not only in fruit trees, but also throughout the plant world. Many plants including the conifers are not able to self-pollinate. This means that the pollen from one plant must fertilize with the flower (or cone) from a different plant in order to produce a viable seed. This process is called cross-fertilization and is a natural safeguard that ensures the biological diversity of the offspring.
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Agent of Pollination
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By far the most common agent of fruit tree pollination is the honeybee. Most fruit trees are from the rose family of plants. These flowers have bright aromatic blossoms that occur in the spring near the time when the leaves first appear. The flowers naturally attract the insects with their bright colors, aromatic petals and large ring of stamens that make it easy for the bee to pick up pollen on its legs and body as it flies from one flower to the next and from one tree to another. The CSU Extension Service recommends that fruit tree growers provide one hive per acre, two if the orchard contains pear trees.
Planting the Trees
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Trees used in cross-pollination need to be planted reasonably close to each other, so that the honeybee can do its work. Wind pollination of fruit trees is almost unheard of, so the bee is always the main agent of pollination. Different varieties of trees used in cross-pollination can be planted near each other in adjacent rows. The ideal distance between crossing plants is 50 to 120 feet. Cross-pollination can also be accomplished by placing cuttings from one type of tree in a bucket with water and then hanging the cut blossoms in the tree of your choice.
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Advantages
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Cross-pollination of fruit trees ensures that the genetic variety in the fruit is changing. This acts as a safeguard against disease and genetic inbreeding of a specific plant population. Cross-pollination can also lead to new varieties of fruits that taste better, have better storage properties or are hardier in a colder or hotter climate.
Precautions
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Fruit growers need to be on the lookout for competing ground plants such as dandelions or clover that will distract bees from the fruit trees. These ground plants are easily eliminated with a lawnmower or sickle, so that the bees can concentrate on the fruit trees. Additionally, if unfavorable weather is present at the time the flowers are blooming, then additional hives may be necessary to ensure that insect pollination occurs.
Self-pollinating Fruits
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Self-pollination is not a rare event in fruit tree pollination. It is common in pear trees and with most kinds of sour cherries. Also, there are some types of plums and nectarines that are self-pollinating. Contrary to popular belief, nectarines are not a cross, but rather a fruit that can be traced back to China.
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References
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- Photo Credit Cherry Blossoms image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com
