Authors:Beena, V.B; Seethalakshmi, K.K; Raveendran, V.P
Abstract:Dendrocalamus stocksii, a common cultivated bamboo species in Konkan area was observed in flowering in Kerala during September 2003 -January 2006. Similarly. Pseudoxytenanthera ritcheyi, endemic to the Westem Ghats, also flowered in 2006. The offsets ofboth the species collected previously and planted in KeraJa Forest Research Institute campus flowered synchronously. The previous record of /lowering of D. stocksii dates back to more than a hundred years. while that of P. ritcheyi was in 1987,88. Observations were recorded on flowering behaviour. reproductive biology and seed set in both the species. P. ritcheyi showed 98 per cent viability of pollen both in acetocarmine staining and in vitro germination tests. Pollen germinated within 15 to 20 min. in the medium containing sucrose, calcium nitrate and boric acid with tube length six times greater than the diameter of the pollen grain. Although poUen grains of D. slOcksii showed 90 per cent viability in the acetocarmine staining method, in vivo germination was absent and in vitro germination was very poor (maximum 11 %). There was no seed formation in D. stocksii and many flowered clumps reverted to vegetative phase. Profuse seed formation was observed in P. ritcheyi and flowered clumps died after seed set. Lack of in vivo pollen germination could probably explain absence of seed set in D. stocksii. Reversion to vegetative phase is a promising trait that can be used for selection of mother clumps for large-scale planting.
Keywords:boric acid; calcium nitrate