Study on Growth and Flowering Timing of False African Nutmeg

Abstract

Matured trees of Pycnanthus angolensis (20.0±5.0years) were purposively selected from Oyo (Idito ID, Adewumi AD), Osun (Gbongan GB, Ajaba AJ), and Ekiti (Otun OT, Ayetoro AY) States, based on availability. Onset and duration of flowering and fruiting (months) and period of fruit colour change (days) were monitored for 24 months. Flower initiation ranged from September-November in which GB initiated flower in October, AJ (September), OT (November), AY (November), ID (November) and AD (November). However, OT, AY, ID and AD initiated flower at the same time. Flower formation also occurred between October-January. In GB, it occurred between Nov – December for (30days), AJ October 3rd–November. 30th for (58days), OT November 8th– December 8th (30days), AY November 8th–December 8th (30days), ID and AD formed flower between December 8th–January8th (30days). Flowering period/ duration also varied, in GB, between October 1st-April 30th (7mths/ 211days), AJ between September 1st – January 31st (5mths/ 153 days), OT between November 1st – March 31st (5mths/ 151days), AY (April), ID and AD (June). Flowering period ranged from 5-8 months. It fruits from middle of July–June. However, Osun fruits (July-April), Ekiti (July-May) and Oyo (November-June). Fruiting initiation (FrI) ranged from July-November, GB: September, AJ: July, OT: July, AY: August, ID and AD: November. However, OT and AJ, ID and AD initiated fruit at the same time. Fruit formation (FF) occurred between September-November. Fruit maturation starts with brown colouration (FrM1), brown-Green (FrM2), Green-Yellow (FrM3) and Yellow (FrM4). FrM1 in GB {September 1st – September 30 (30)}, AJ: July 1st–November (150days), OT: July1st–August 30th (62), AY: August1st–October 30th (90), ID: November-December (61) and AD November1st-30th (30); FrM2 in GB ranged from October 1st-December 15th (105), AJ November1st-30th (30), OT (91days), AY October (60 days), ID (61) and AD (61); FrM3: ranged from (30 to 89days), and FrM4 ranged from (90days/3months) to 202 days. Fruiting occurred between middle of September–june. Osun began (September-January), Ekiti (November-April) and Oyo (November-June).