Fruit Trees Physiology and Breeding Programs Research Using Microscopic Technology

Abstract

The flower bud differentiation in bearing pistachio trees was examined using microtechnique and microscopic examination of samples for better pistachio orchard management. In addition, the pollen viability test was carried out using microscope technology in the controlled hybridization and breeding programs in sour and sweet cherry, almond, European and Asian pears, apricot, citrus and olives. This research was followed with the examination of pollen tube growth in the style using UV and florescent microscope in sweet cherry, European and Asian pears. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has provided a powerful technique in pomology research such as studying pollen morphology at TMU. SEM was used in order to investigate genotypic differences in pollen shape and exine structure in the species such as olive, apricots, Asian pear and pomegranate. In addition, the importance of stomatal density and its role in the pistachio trees gas exchange subjected to drought was studied and followed by evaluation of the existence of trichomes around the stomata in some pistachio rootstocks. Taken images were shown that stomata are often sunken and covered by trichomes to prevent water loss in the pistachio rootstocks subjected to drought. In the recent research the postharvest shelf life of peach fruit was examined using microscope technology in order to test the effect of some plant extracts in fruit quality attributes in the storage. Microscopic examination of the samples in wide range of physiological and breeding programs showed an essential part of research at TMU, lead to reliable and effective research results.