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The Kentucky State University (KSU) Pawpaw Program recently published a landmark article in the high-impact journal, HortScience, titled, “Impact of Self- and Cross-pollination on Fruit and Seed Set in Pawpaw in Kentucky.” The peer-reviewed article was authored by Dr. Srijana Thapa Magar, Dr. Kirk W. Pomper, Mr. Jeremiah Lowe, and Ms. Sheri Crabtree.

This groundbreaking study is the first to definitively demonstrate that self-pollination (selfing) occurs in pawpaw, as confirmed by DNA simple sequence repeat (SSR) fingerprinting. Unique SSR DNA fingerprint patterns were generated for each parent, allowing researchers to determine whether a seedling resulted from selfing or cross-pollination.

The study found that self-pollination occurs at a low rate in the pawpaw cultivar, ‘Sunflower,’ but emphasized that cross-pollination remains essential for optimal fruit set and seed development. These findings enhance our understanding of the genetic and reproductive biology of pawpaw and lay the groundwork for improving yields through strategic pollinizer selection and a better grasp of self-compatibility in cultivars.

The research was based on data collected by Dr. Thapa Magar during her Master of Science in Environmental Studies program at KSU, under the mentorship of Dr. Pomper.

“The tools of molecular biology and DNA fingerprinting can definitively answer pollination and parentage questions that previously could only be speculated,” said Dr. Pomper. “These powerful techniques are not only advancing research but are also being used to train our students in addressing agronomically important questions.”

Click the link to view the full article.

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