Flowering, fruit set and development.

In this chapter, flower biology and fruit set in cherry, sweet (Prunus avium) and sour (Prunus avium), are examined, paying attention to the critical steps that result in failures in fruit set. For this purpose, a chronological timeline is followed. First, flower development is examined in relation to dormancy. Then, at flowering, the events from pollination to fertilization are described with a particular emphasis on self-incompatibility. Finally, fruit set and fruit development are considered, evaluating the causes behind failures in fruit set and the main determinants of fruit development.