Study on Pollen Xenia Effect of Four Cultivars in Castanea henryi

Castanea henryi is an important non-wood forest tree in south of China. In C. henryi the pollen xenia is of great importance for nut production. Pollen xenia phenomenon does not only affects the setting rate, but also influence the appearance and quality of nut. To elucidate this phenomenon, investigations on the pollen xenia effect in C. henryi, ‘Chushuhong’ (C), ‘Tiezhen’(T), ‘Youzhen’(Y) and Huangzhen’(H) 4 cultivars were used as materials. 20 pollination combinations including self- and cross-pollination and natural pollination were undertaken in Chenzhou chestnut orchard. The results are showed that pollen xenia effect was significant difference among the fruit ripening, fruit setting, the size of the barbed shell and nut, soluble sugar, fat, protein and amylose and vitamin C, but there were no significant among the seed rate, total starch and moisture areas. The fruit quality of the 20 pollination combinations was evaluated by analyzing the main components of fruit, and their quality in a descending order as follows：C × Y> Cck> C × H> H × Y> C × C> C × T> Hck> H × H> T × T> T × C> H × C> Tck> Y × C> H × T> Y × T> Yck> Y × H> T × Y> T × H. Thus, the combination of C × Y was the best choice. This paper provides the theoretical basis for the rational allocation pollination cultivars in practice, and may improve nut yield and quality.