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INDUCING parthenocarpy: pollination dependence subverted. (???)

17 years ago

Hi,

I've read that parthenocarpy (setting fruit without the presence of pollen, a characteristic present in only certain cultivars) can be synthetically induced. Some cultivars must be pollinated to bear fruit. One way is to spray the fruit blossoms (for instance of D. kaki, Asian persimmons) with gibberellin (Shanks & Newel, HRB1; Popenoe 2000). Another technique would involve the application of dead, modified, or other-specie pollen, in addition to synthetic growth compounds; this is done with varieties of the pineapple, banana, cucumber, grape, orange, grapefruit, persimmon, and breadfruit (Encycl. Britannica).

Do you think this would work on Diospyros virginiana (American persimmon)? And would this be cost-effective for the average home-gardener?

Thanks,

Steve

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