Studies on the Reproductive Ability of Various Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) Cultivars Grown in the Climatic Conditions of Western Norway

This study examines the reproductive biology of five widely cultivated apple cultivars in Norway ('Discovery', 'Rubinstep', 'Red Aroma', 'Elstar', and 'Asfari'), when crossed with the main pollenizers ('Summerred', 'Discovery', 'Katja', 'Rubinstep', 'Red Aroma', 'Fryd', and 'Eden', and two crab apples 'Professor Sprenger' and 'Dolgo'), as well as under self-pollination and open pollination. The experiment was conducted over two seasons (2022-2023) in Hardanger, a region in Western Norway. Flowering time and overlap, in vitro pollen germination, pollen tube growth within the styles and ovary, embryo sac viability, fertilization success, and fruit set were analyzed as key reproductive parameters. Under broadly comparable climatic conditions across both seasons, the results showed that both mother cultivar and the pollenizer strongly influenced progamic processes and fruit set. Pollen tube growth through the pistil was generally faster and more successful in 2022 for all pollination combinations, resulting in a higher fruit set. The only exception was 'Elstar', which exhibited a higher fruit set in 2023. If a single optimal pollenizer were to be selected for each apple cultivar in Western Norway, it would be 'Red Aroma' for 'Discovery' and 'Rubinstep'; 'Rubinstep' for 'Red Aroma' and 'Elstar'; and 'Professor Sprenger' for 'Asfari'. Based on pollen tube growth in vivo and the fruit set, cultivars 'Discovery', 'Rubinstep', 'Red Aroma', 'Elstar', and 'Asfari' showed self-incompatibility.