Floral biology of adapathiyan (Holostemma adakodien schult)

Abstract

An investigation on the floral biology of adapathiyan (Holastemma adakiidian Schult.y was undertaken at the college of Horticulture, Thrissur during the period 1995-1997. The inflorescence is axillary and cymose with bisexual flowers. Flowers open 25 to 28 days after bud initiation and passes through 12 different developmental phases before anthesis. Anthesis commences at 8.30 a.m. and extends up to 10.00 a.m. Anther dehiscence occurs on the fourth day of flower opening from 9.30 a.m. to I p.m. The maximum stigma receptivity was observed on the first day of flower opening. Size of the pollen grains ranged from SO to 75 um with 90-100 % fertility in Brew baker and Kwak's medium.