Abstract
The Euryale ferox (Salisb.) or gorgon or makhana is one of the most important non cereal food crops of commerce from wetland ecosystem in India. Flower is cleistogamous (CLS) and predominantly self-pollinated. The variations in floral characters were observed in 10 types of germplasm viz., Manipur-2, Manipur-4, Manipur-7, Manipur-9, Selection-17, Selection-23, Selection-27, Selection-28, Superior Selection-1 and cv. Swarna Vaidehi. In our present study, the number of flowers varied from 8.33 (Manipur-9) to 16.33 (Superior Selection-1) per plant and flowering period was about 40 days. However, peak pollination was observed between 60 - 70 days after transplanting. The weather of August and September were ideal for pollination and fruit set. The temperature and humidity of this period were 29°C - 31°C and 79% - 81%, respectively. Besides cleistogamy (CL), chasmogamy (CH) is also observed after July flowering in Euryale, when crop gets matured, water level considerably goes down, and flowers are generally opened in air. There were rare chances for cross pollination by insect. In later stage, chasmogamous (CHS) flower increases up to 22.50% in October. Seed formation of the CHS flower was very less and seed number varies from July (11.25/fruit) to September (28.33/fruit). Artificial hybridization can be performed in CHS flower. The complete flower development was noticed within 72 - 96 hrs from floral initiation. Therefore, getting of CHS flower outside water is very less. There were strong correlations between number of embryos (r = 0.762), ovary area (longitudinal) (r = 0.681) with the yield of the Euryale plant.
Highlights
A close perusal of the Table 1 revealed that the number of flower/plant varies from 8.33 (Manipur-9) to 16.33 (Superior Selection-1)
The maximum floral parts were observed in Superior Selection-1
Flower size ranged from 23.16 cm2 in Selection 17 to 33.79 cm2 in Superior Selection-1
Summary
Edible seeds of Euryale are used in traditional Chinese medicine, where they are often cooked in soups along with other ingredients [8] Though it is an eastern and south Asian species, it is widespread and recorded from the Russian Federation, India (Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, West Bengal), Japan (Honshu, Kyushu), Republic of Korea, Taiwan (Province of Thailand), Bangladesh and Myanmar [9] [10]. This plant has edible and medicinal uses. Flower is epigynous with more than 40 corolla [17], ovary 7 - 16 chambered with 6 - 8 seeds/locule [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
