Differences in fruit development among large- and small-fruited cultivars of saskatoon

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • McGarry, Roisin
  • Ozga, Jocelyn A.
  • Reinecke, Dennis M.

• Fruit growth in saskatoons (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.), an emerging horticultural crop across the Canadian prairies, results from development of the mesocarp and the endocarp-locular-ovular structure which includes the developing seeds. Contribution of these tissues to fruit size was assessed using transverse sections of ovaries sampled at six developmental stages among large- and small-fruited cultivars. Mesocarp development was similar among the larger-fruited cultivars (Thiessen, Northline, and Smoky); the number of cells increased rapidly through Stage I [162 to 293 growing degree days (GDDs)] of fruit growth, and cell number increase was minimal during Stages II (293 to 577 GDDs) and III (577 to 747 GDDs). In Regent' fruit (a small-fruited cultivar), the maximal rate of cell division was delayed until Stage II and the mesocarp contained fewer cells than the larger-fruited cultivars at harvest maturity. Mesocarp cell enlargement was similar among all of the cultivars studied where cell expansion was maximal during Stage I and continued at a slower rate during Stages II and III. The area of the endocarp-locular-ovular structure was greatest forThiessen' and Northline', midrange forSmoky', and smallest for `Regent'. Data suggest that a minimum number of mesocarp cells early in fruit development is required to attain maximal mesocarp size, and that differences in cultivar fruit size are a function of both the mesocarp and the endocarp-locular-ovular structure.

• Date created

  2001-01-01

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Service berry
  • Fruit
  • Mesocarp
  • Saskatoon berry
  • June berry

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-y2e9-1d84

• License

  © 2001 R. McGarry et al. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.