Effect of metaxenia on pomological traits of 'Topaz' apple cultivar

Abstract

The paper presents results of a three-year study of metaxenia effect on pomological properties of scab-resistant apple cultivar 'Topaz', whose fruits were obtained through two pollination variants, i.e., cross-pollination ('Topaz' x 'Red Elstar' and 'Topaz' x 'Rajka') and open pollination ('Topaz' O.P.). The pomological traits of the 'Topaz' cultivar were determined based on the assessment of morphometric (fruit weight, height and width; shape index; stalk length; seed number) and chemical properties (soluble solids content; total, inverted sugars and sucrose content; total acids; pH value). The highest fruit weight, height and width (167.6 g, 55.4 mm and 71.8 mm, respectively) and number of seeds per fruit (11.1) in the 'Topaz' were achieved using 'Rajka' as the pollenizer cultivar. The best quality of the 'Topaz' fruits, measured by the chemical composition, was found in the open pollination variant (soluble solids content - 14.9%; total and inverted sugars - 12.5% and 8.4%, respectively; total acids content - 0.54%). Overall, based on the assessed parameters, the 'Rajka' cultivar can be recommended as suitable pollenizer for 'Topaz'.