Vol. 9, Special Issue 10, Part O (2025)

A phenomenon known as the xenia effect describes how the genotype of the pollen that fertilizes the ovule influences the traits of fruits and nuts for many species. When compared to self-pollination, cross-pollination improves mango fruit attributes at maturity. On the other hand, nothing is known about the xenic effects of various mango cultivars employed as cross-pollen parents on the fruit's development and constituent parts. The present study was conducted during 2023-24 and 2024-25 to evaluate the influence of pollen parents on fruit development traits in two prominent cultivars, Kesar and Sonpari. Twenty one male parents were crossed with Kesar and Sonpari. Observations were recorded on mature fruit weight, ripen fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, and fruit volume. The data obtained were compared with fruits developed through open pollination, which served as the reference standard. For uniformity of comparison, the fruit characteristics under open pollination were considered as 100% and the relative performance of fruits derived from other pollination treatments was expressed as a percentage of this standard. Results revealed significant variation among treatment combinations. In Kesar, pollination with Vashi Badami, Neeleshan, Dasheri, Dadmiyo, Langra, Rajapuri, Amrapali, and Pairi resulted in a significant increase over in all fruit characteristics compared with open pollination, whereas pollination with Sonpari, Ratna, Fazli, Lal Katra, Vanraj, Sardar, Jamadar, Rumani, Alphonso, and Jahangir lead to a marked reduction in these traits. Kesar pollinated with Kesar (geitenogamy) and Karanjiyo failed to produce mature fruits. Similarly, in Sonpari, pollination with Vashi Badami, Karanjiyo, Langra, Rajapuri, Alphonso, Sardar, and Jamadar promoted significant improvement in fruit attributes over open pollination, while Totapuri, Dasheri, Ratna, Fazli, Lal Katra, Vanraj, Rumani, Neeleshan, Jahangir and Pairi exerted a negative influence in fruit characteristics over open pollination. Sonpari pollinated with Sonpari (geitenogamy), Amrapali and Dadmiyo failed to produce mature fruits.