Pollen quality, pollen production and yield of different high temperature tolerant tomato genotypes were evaluated under Adana, Turkey conditions in two different periods. The control treatment (normal sown, where day/night temperatures during the vegetative and generative stage are below 32/20 °C) of the first period started on February 20, 2015. The seedlings in the second period were planted on May 15, 2015. The performances of twenty-four tomato genotypes (resistant and sensitive commercial genotypes) were compared to determine high temperature resistant and sensitive tomato genotypes. Significant relationship was obtained between the yield and the number of pollens. The results of the experiment revealed that ‘Tom173’, ‘Tom119’ and ‘F15656’ genotypes were more resistant, while ‘Tom108’ and ‘Tom10’ genotypes were more sensitive compared to the other tomato genotypes tested in the experiment.

Several factors influence fruit set and yield in strawberry production. Bees play an important role in pollinating strawberry flowers; however, bee populations are decreasing due to air pollution and high usage of pesticides. Boron (B) can increase fruit set by improving pollen viability, germination, and pollen tube growth. This study aimed to assess how the application of honey bees and B fertilizer affects yields and marketable fruit quality of Fortuna strawberry cultivar. The experiment used two strawberry growing tunnels. One was open, thus allowing bee activity, and the other was closed, which meant that bees could not access the strawberry flowers. Each tunnel had different B applications. The presence of bees increased the total fruit yield per plant by 54% compared to the results of plants that were not pollinated by bees. Plants treated with bees yielded bigger fruit than those without bee treatment, which is likely a result of more achenes having been fertilized. Fruit formation, however, did not depend directly on pollinator activity. Both in the presence and absence of bees, applying B to the soil increased yields and decreased misshapen fruit rates. Applying B to the soil was more effective than B foliar applications. As a result of this study, it is demonstrated that strawberry plants perform at a higher rate with the application of B and the presence of bee activity.

Kalanchoë cultivars rank as one of the most sold potted ornamental plants in the world. Among its key features that sustain high market interest are the long flowering period, abundance of flowers, thick and glossy leaves, easy maintenance and less water requirement compared to other potted plants. In breeding studies of Kalanchoë, plants with different flower colors such as white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink and purple were developed. Moreover, double-flowered cultivars (comprising a large number of petals), more compact and cultivars with larger flowers were also obtained. Novel morphological characteristics are always in high demand in the market of ornamental plants. Increasing the variation in the gene pool with different species played a major role in the development of these characteristics. Nowadays, not only potted cultivars are launched but also cut flower cultivars have been developed and presented to consumers. Besides conventional breeding and interspecific hybridization, biotechnological methods, which have a promising future, are used to develop morphological characteristics of Kalanchoë.

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