Self-incompatibility in Almond

The almond has a self-incompatibility system that prevents self-pollination, and causes cross-incompatibility between genotypes sharing common (S) alleles. Pollen donor cultivars are currently planted at a 1:1 ratio with the main cultivar to achieve effective levels of pollination for commercial production. A self-fertility gene (Sf) was identified that confers self-compatibility in almond and we are currently investigating its role in the self-incompatibility system.

Researchers: Michelle Wirthensohn and Brent Kaiser

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