QUINCE
Cydonia oblonga Mill., family RosaceaeThe common quince is closely related to the apple and pear but is of much less importance in the United States, where possibly 1,000 tons are produced commercially each year (Magness et al. 1971). In Europe, the fruit is more highly esteemed and more extensively grown than in the United States. This species should not be confused with the flowering quinces (Chaenomoles spp.) grown primarily as ornamentals, but whose fruit is occasionally utilized also. Chandler (1951*) stated that the Chinese quince (Chaenomoles sinensis (Thouin) Koehne) makes nearly as good jams and jellies as the common quince.
Plant:
The quince is deciduous, about as hardy as the peach, but is less tolerant to warm weather. The plant is 10 to 20 feet tall, spineless, and similar in appearance and growth habits to the apple. The trees are usually set 6 to 12 feet apart. The fruit is smaller than the average apple and has a pleasant odor but may contain more than 50 seeds.
Inflorescence:
Quince trees may bloom from February to May depending upon the species and geographical area. Blooms on a tree may last 11 to 20 days with full bloom lasting 6 to 10 days.
The quince flower is similar to the apple, but in general it is coarser and more colorful. It develops on first year growth and therefore appears later in the season than the apple blossom. It may be as much as 2 inches across, with five cup-shaped petals that vary, according to cultivar, from white to scarlet. It bears 20 or more stamens and five styles leading to a five-carpel ovary that, as a fruit, may produce the more than 50 seeds (fig. 165). The stamens and pistils are fully twice as large as and thicker than those of the apple (Waite 1899). A nectary at the base of the styles is half concealed by the closely spaced filaments, and only honey bees or larger insects can push in between the petals and stamens to reach the nectar.
Nectar secretion and pollination of the common quince was studied by Stancevic (1963) and Simidchiev (1967) who found that the amount secreted by a blossom in 24 hours varied from 0.851 to 1.634 mg on an average in the different cultivars with sugar concentration varying from 41.3 to 49.9 percent. Nectar secretion continued day and night for 5 days but was highest around noon each day. The flowers are freely visited by pollen and nectar collecting insects.
[gfx] FIGURE 165. - Longitudinal section of 'Smyrna' quince flower, x 4.
Pollination Requirements:
The stigma of the quince is receptive even before the flower opens. When it opens, the outer anthers are first to dehisce, the inner ones remaining closed and beneath the receptive stigma. Because most insects settle on the flower center, crossing is effected before selfing is possible. Later, the inner anthers dehisce in contact with the stigma, but whether it remains receptive seems to be unknown. The question then deals with the effectiveness of this self-pollination. Chandler (1951*) stated that the flowers of the quince varieties seem self-fruitful enough, but he did not indicate whether he referred to self-compatibility or self- fertilization. Waite (1899) cross-pollinated several cultivars and observed no striking benefit to be derived from pollinating insects bringing pollen from other cultivars. Gardner et al (1962) and Shoemaker and Teskey (1959) also concluded that quinces were self-fertile. Mace (1949) stated that insects cross-pollinate the flowers shortly after the, open, but if this is not accomplished the flowers self later. He did not indicate how he arrived at this conclusion.
Ershov (1966) conducted fertility studies on quince varieties from different places over a 5-year period. Of 23 varieties tested, only five were self-fertile. The other were partially to completely self-sterile. He concludec that for all practical purposes the quince is a self-sterile crop. Where mutual pollination exists, a good harves can be obtained.
There seems to be no question that pollinating insect are needed when the flower first opens. In apples and numerous other plants, pollination at the earliest possible time is highly desirable. This would appear to be the case with quince.
Pollinators:
The most thorough study of pollinating agents of quince was made by Simidchiev (1967) on five cultivar of the common quince. He showed that quince is highly attractive to honey bees throughout the day for both nectar and pollen. This activity is highly conducive to transfer of pollen from anther to stigma between cultivars as well as within the individual flower. Simidchiev (1967) noted that under favorable conditions for bee flight, when bees visited the blossoms from morning to night, 5 percent gathered only nectar, 11 percent gathered only pollen, and 84 percent gathered both. The flowers are highly attractive to honey bees, therefore where needed they should be satisfactory pollinatin agents.
Pollination Recommendations and Practices:
None.
LITERATURE CITED:
ERSHOV, L. A.
1966. [BIOLOGY OF QUINCE POLLINATION.] In Trushechkin, V. G., Tarakanov, G. I., and Nicolaenko, N. P. Reports of the Soviet Scientists to the 17th International Congress on Horticulture, pp. 106-111, Moscow. [In Russian, English summary.]GARDNER, V. R., BRADFORD, F. C., and HOOKER, H. D., JR.
1952. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FRUIT PRODUCTION. 739 pp. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York.MACE, H.
1949. BEES, FLOWERS AND FRUIT. 184 pp. Wyman and Sons Ltd., London.MAGNESS, J R., MARKLE, G. M., and COMPTON, C. C.
1971. FOOD AND FEED CROPS OF THE UNITED STATES - A DESCRIPTIVE LIST CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO POTENTIALS FOR PESTICIDES RESIDUES. N.J. Agr. Expt. Sta., Interregion. Res. Pro;. IR-4, IR Bul.1, 255 pp.SHOEMAKER, J. S., and TESKEY, B. J. E.
1959. TREE FRUIT PRODUCTION. 456 pp. John Wiley & Sons, New York.SIMIDCHEIV, T.
1967. [INVESTIGATIONS ON THE NECTAR AND HONEY PRODUCTIVITY OF THE QUINCE (CYDONIA VULGARIS PERS.).] Nauch. Trud. Vissh. Selskostop. Inst. Vasil Kolarov 16(2): 241- 253. [In Bulgarian, German and Russian summaries.]STANCEVIC, A. S.
1963. [STUDY OF THE POLLEN GERMINATION AND SELF-POLLINATION OF THE MORE IMPORTANT QUINCE VARIETIES GROWN IN YUGOSLAVIA.] Arh. za Poljaprivredne Nauke 16(52): 106-112. [In Serbian, English summary.]WAITE, M. B.
1899. POLLINATION OF QUINCE. U.S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1898: 167-180.
