Floral biology, fruitset and fruit development in sweet lovi-lovi (Flacourtia Cataphracta Roxb.)

Abstract

Sweet lovi-lovi, f'lacourtia cataphracta Roxb., is dioecious with male and female flowers borne on separate trees. The male tree flowers two weeks earlier than the female during October and the female in mid November. The flowers in male appear as axillary or terminal cymose clusters while those in female trees are in fascicles. In the male trees, 25 days are required for the complete flower development and in the female it takes 18-20 days. About 19 percent of pollen are viable with a maximum pollen germination of (80.7%) with pollen tube length of (132.6 jim) in 4 per cent sucrose + 0.25 per cent agar media. The fruit development from fruitsct requires 78-80 days. The fruits are harvested in February taking 98-100 days from flower initiation. The shelf life of the fruit is very low and proper harvesting methods and storage devices are required to prolong the shelflifeofihe fruits.