Impact of pollination schedules on the fruit characteristics of kiwifruit

Abstract

Timings of pollination are crucial for adequate fruit set, development, quality and yield of kiwifruit. A study was undertaken for three years (2020-22) to find out the effective pollination period (EPP) of commercial kiwifruit cultivars in Sikkim conditions. Ten-year-old vines of the female cultivar Monty and the male cultivar Allison were taken for the study. It was found that 8 am is the most important time to perform pollination for obtaining bigger-sized fruits. Fruit set was found to be 100% when pollination was performed at 9 am, 10 am and 3 pm. The yield was found to be the highest at 9 am (35.20 kg/plant) pollination time; TSS recorded 1.38-fold variations with the maximum at 8 am (19.1°B). Total acidity was recorded as the minimum at 9 am (0.64%) pollination. Further, ascorbic acid was recorded at to be the maximum at 9 am (118.9 mg/100g) pollination. Primary and secondary nutrients were also found to be higher in pollinated flowers from 8.00 am to 12.00 pm. Thus, efforts for producing good quality and marketable size fruits in kiwifruit the vines should the flowers should be within the 8.00 am to 12.00 pm pollination timings.