REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF GNETUM LATIFOLIUM BLUME (GNETALES) IN TAMIL NADU

Karupusamy S

doi:10.26524/krj150

Abstract

The reproductive biology of Gnetum latifolium Blume studied in four different forest sites of Tamil Nadu. G. latifolium reported to have dioecious plants with less number male population in all the selected areas. Entamophilous cues observed with common anaemophily and pollinator may be flies. Pollination dropsare also reported in young ovules. The seed maturation and germination frequency observed with very low frequency in all the selected population whereas in high number of abortive ovules reported in Western Ghats.

Highlights

In Gymnosperms, Gnetales (Ephedra, Gnetum, Welwitschia) morphologically distinct true seeded plants and regularly produced bisexual cones and seeds usually with gynodioecious plants
The reproductive biology of Gnetum latifolium Blume studied in four different forest sites of Tamil Nadu
The seed maturation and germination frequency observed with very low frequency in all the selected population whereas in high number of abortive ovules reported in Western Ghats

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In Gymnosperms, Gnetales (Ephedra, Gnetum, Welwitschia) morphologically distinct true seeded plants and regularly produced bisexual cones and seeds usually with gynodioecious plants. This plant group has been long regarded as insect pollination due to its range-restricted distribution in tropical forests, where wind pollination is supposed to be detrimental. Several accounts reported that Gnetum and Ephedra produce bisexual cones with sterile or abortive ovules (Endress, 1996; Hufford, 1996). Reproductive biology of many Gnetum species poorly understood (Endress, 1966).It is well known that many Angiosperms produce nectar as an attractant for pollinators, perhaps Gnetales reported that to produce pollination drops. The present study is aimed on the documentation of pollination mechanism and seed development in Gnetum latifoium

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pollination studies

Pollen studies

AND DISCUSSION