MSc

The present study on evaluation of morphological characters and
compatibility reactions among ten selected Anthurium andreanum varieties,
was undertaken to analyse the scope for genetic improvement in this crop.
The analysis of variance revealed significant variation among the ten
varieties for the twelve quantitative characters studied. This reveals the high
genetic potential for the improvement of this crop.
Variability studies indicated that high phenotypic and genotypic
coefficients of variation for the characters plant height, position of candle,
days to initiation of female phase, number of days in female phase and spathe
size. The characters with heritability coupled with high genetic advance values
were plant height, spathe size, spathe-candle ratio, position of candle, number
of flowers per candle and days to initiation of female phase, indicating additive
gene action.
Plant height was found to be positively correlated with number of leaves
or spadices per year. Spathe size and candle length were positively correlated.
Candle length had high positive genotypic correlation with position of candle
and number of flowers per candle.
Pollen fertility ranged from 42 per cent in Liver Red to 13.7 per cent in
Mauritius Orange. Study of pollen emergence pattern revealed significant
differences among the varieties. Pollen emergence was completely absent in
Pompon Red, Nitta Orange and Midori Green during the period of study.
Pollen production was high in the cooler months of October to December and

was suppressed during the hot months of March to June.
Cross compatibility analysis based on the results of intervarietal
hybridisation was done using the three parameters; i.e., percentage of candles
bearing fruits, percentage fruit set and percentage seed •germination.
The percentage of fruit bearing candles were highest for Nitta Orange
(51.93 per cent) and lowest for Mauritius Orange (9.51 per cent). The only
two selfings that produced fruiting candles were LR x LR and DT x DT.
The number of fruits per candle ranged from five to 183. The variety
Pompon Red had the highest average number of fruits per candle and it was
lowest for Lady Jane.
The percentage of fruit set was below 50 per cent for all the crosses
except PR x LR. The crosses involving Pompon Red as female parent had the
highest percentage of fruit set.
The number of days taken for seed germination varied from three to
twelve days. The seed germination was highest (87.5 per cent) for the cross
DT x MW. Among the varieties it ranged from 69 per cent in Tropical Red to
2.3 per cent in Midori Green.
Seedling survival at four to six month stage was highest for the crosses
of Mauritius Orange and the lowest for those of Midori Green. The cross TR
x MW showed 100 per cent seedling survival.
Scoring of the compatibility reactions based on fruiting candles, fruit set
and seed germination, on a scale ranging from O to 9, showed the highest
compatibility' score of nine for PR x LR and CR x MW crosses. The best
female parents were identified as Nitta Orange, Liver Red and Pompon Red

based on the overall performance.
The analysis of the performance of varieties as pollen parents on the
same basis showed that Ceylon Red, Merengue White and Liver Red are the
best pollen parents. These observations showed that the performance of a
variety as female parent was different from its performance as male parent.
Only the variety Ceylon Red and Liver Red performed well both as female and
male parent.