Apple Orchard Pollinizers Quiz Quiz

Explore key facts about apple pollinizer varieties and their important role in maximizing orchard productivity. This quiz covers principles of cross-pollination, compatible varieties, and common horticultural practices.

1. Choosing Suitable Pollinizers

   Which of the following apple varieties is commonly used as a universal pollinizer in many orchards due to its compatibility and long bloom period?

   1. Jonathan
   2. Honeycrisp
   3. Crabapple
   4. Red Delicious

   Explanation: Crabapple trees are widely used as universal pollinizers because they bloom simultaneously with many commercial apple varieties and offer compatible pollen. Red Delicious and Honeycrisp are important commercial varieties but are not typically used as universal pollinizers. Jonathan is also a commercial cultivar and may not provide compatible pollen for all varieties.

2. Pollination Needs in Triploid Varieties

   Why should triploid apple varieties such as 'Gravenstein' be planted with at least two other diploid varieties in orchards?

   1. Triploids produce more fruit than diploids
   2. Triploids have better disease resistance
   3. Triploids cannot pollinate others and need two pollinizers
   4. Triploids are self-fertile

   Explanation: Triploid apple varieties are sterile in terms of pollen production and cannot pollinate other trees, so two compatible diploid pollinizers are needed. Triploids do not inherently produce more fruit or have better disease resistance, and they are not self-fertile.

3. Flowering Time Synchrony

   When planning an orchard, why is it critical to select pollinizer varieties with overlapping bloom periods with the main apple cultivars?

   1. To ensure effective cross-pollination occurs
   2. To reduce irrigation needs
   3. To control fruit shape
   4. To prevent disease spread

   Explanation: Bloom period overlap is essential so that pollen from the pollinizer is available when the main cultivar's flowers are receptive. Disease prevention, fruit shape, and irrigation are unrelated to bloom period synchrony.

4. Self-Fertility Among Apple Varieties

   Which statement accurately describes most commercial apple cultivars in regards to self-fertility?

   1. They are fully self-fertile and do not need pollinizers
   2. They require cross-pollination because they are self-incompatible
   3. They can be pollinated by wind alone
   4. They set fruit without any pollination at all

   Explanation: Most commercial apple cultivars are self-incompatible and need pollen from a different compatible variety to set fruit. Very few are fully self-fertile; wind alone is insufficient for apple pollination, and fruit set generally requires pollination.

5. Mechanical Bee Introduction Practices

   Why do apple orchard managers commonly introduce honey bee hives during flowering, even if compatible pollinizer varieties are present?

   1. To control weed growth
   2. To discourage bird pests
   3. To enhance pollen transfer between varieties
   4. To fertilize the soil

   Explanation: Honey bees are introduced to increase the movement of pollen between pollinizer and fruiting varieties, improving fruit set. Bees do not discourage birds, fertilize soil, or control weeds.