MSc

The present study, “ Floral biology and compatibility studies in Heliconia” was undertaken to understand the Floral biology and to analyse the compatibility reaction of the selected genotypes of heliconia which would prove to be help in further breeding and crop improvement programmes.
Floral biology of fifteen heliconia genotypes and their compatibility was assessed by taking one promising variety of heliconia (Lady Di) with seed set as female parent and crossing with other fourteen selected pollen parents.
Variability studies indicated high phenotypic coefficient of variation for pollen fertility (97.97 %) .The variability of genotypic coefficient was highest for anthocyanin content (86.76 %) followed by number of flowers per bract. This reveals a great extend of variability for these characters. The character anthocyanin content and number of flowers per bract recorded high heritability coupled with high genetic advance.
Number of days from first to last flower opening showed significant positive phenotypic correlation with number of days from emergence to male phase and pollen size. The number of days from emergence to male phase showed positive genotypic correlation with first to last flower opening and negative correlation with days from emergence to female phase. Length of inflorescence was negatively correlated to number of days from emergence to male and female phase.
Peak anthesis time was found to be between 3 and 6 a.m for all the varieties except for variety Collinsiana where anthesis was found distributed between 8 p.m and 7 a.m. No flower opening was observed for varieties Petra Orange, Pedro Ortiz, Guyana, Golden Torch and Alan Carle.
Pollen fertility (89.39 %) was found to be highest for Lady Di, which was on par with Parakeet. The lowest pollen fertility was for variety Guyana (23.23%).
Anthocyanin content was the highest for Lady Di (58.38 mg/ 100 g).
Selfing yielded the highest percent seed set (4.56 %) for Parakeet.
Seed set was obtained for variety Sassy under open pollination and selfing.
Compatibility analysis where Lady Di was used as female parent and other fourteen varieties as pollen parent yielded no seed set. Very high degree of incompatibility (84.76 %) where ovary dried without any visible post pollination changes was observed in the compatibility analysis.
Lotens Sun Bird (Nectarina lotenia), Stingless Bees (Melipona iridipennis syn. Trigona iridipennis) and Ants were identified to be the possible pollinators of Heliconia.
The present study reveals many cross compatibility barriers in hybridisation of heliconia which should be overcome with precise physical, mechanical or chemical means as there exists a wide variability and potentiality for this crop which can be exploited for further crop improvement programmes and evolution of newer attractive varieties with highly desirable characters.