Browsing by Author "Heen Banda, Y.M."

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    Anthesis and pollen studies in nutmeg Myristica fragrans houtt
    (2007-02-08) Bavappa, K.V.A.; Heen Banda, Y.M.
    A study of anthesis and pollen viability in nutmeg showed that anthesis started at 3 a. m. and continued upto 5 a. m. The anther dehiscence was observed to take place about 36 hr. in advance of the anthesis between 9 a. m. and 2 p. m. The pollen grains so held inside the flower were released as a cloud at the time of anthesis. The male flowers were shed in about 36 hr. after anthesis. The pollen had a mean diameter of 48.8/1, non-sticky, pilated in sculpture, spherical in shape and without any aperture. No insects were observed to visit the flowers at the time of anthesis. Of the different concentrations of sucrose tested, maximum pollen germination of 74.3% was recorded in 5% sucrose solution. Pollen tube growth was also maximum in this concentration. Pollen germination was observed to start 2 hr. after the dusting of the pollen into the medium and was complete in about 5 hr. The mean stainability of pollen was 96.9%.