Ensuring good production in apple orchards depends on efficient pollination, which is directly related to pollen-stigma compatibility, blooming time coincidence, high production and good germination capacity of pollen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different apple genotypes as pollinizers of 'Daiane' cv. at the climate of Middle-west of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Apple trees of 'Daiane' cv. were pollinated in the field with several apple selections from the Apple Breeding Program of Epagri - Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária e Extensão Rural de Santa Catarina. Right after pollination, the flowering clusters were protected with paper bags for 72h hours. It were considered the coincidence on blooming time, the climatic adaptation of the trees, the percentage of germination, the reaction to Gala Leaf Spot disease, as well as the fruit set and the number of seed per fruit induced by the pollinizers of this study. It was observed that the best pollinizers for 'Daiane' apple trees were the selections 140/76 and 140/228, respectively. Both selections are indicated to be used combined as pollinizers of 'Daiane'.
Malus domestica; pollination; apple; self-incompatibility
