ISHS Acta Horticulturae 321: Frontier in Tropical Fruit Research
PARTHENOCARPY IN SEEDLESS BREADFRUIT (ARTHOCARPUS INCIRCUS, (THUMB.) L.) |
| Authors: | S. Hasan, A. Razak |
| Abstract:
Evidence for parthenocarpy on the monoceious seedless breadfruit (Arthocarpus incircus, (Thumb.)L.) is lacking. Micromorphological features barrier on the female and male flowers which contribute to the parthenocarpy were examined by scaning electron microscope. The stigma is enclosed in a chamber below the perianth tip at the apex of individual female flower in the globose inflorescence. The four acuminose rudimentary perianths are closely arranged to exclude possibility of pollination either by wind or insect pollinators. Histologically, the tissue of the styles which appear as the short stalk supporting the stigma, merge with the tissue of the perianth. There was no distinct continuity of the style connecting the stigma to the ovary. The pollen grain present in the anther is not viable. It failed to stain with acetocarmine. Physical isolation of the globose female inflorescence upon emerging from the large stipule with a paper bag did not effect to the development of the fruit to maturity 73 ±2 days later. Similarly, globose female inflorescence produced at the end of the flowering flush, when the male inflorescences were not present, developed to a normal fruit size with an average weight of 1.5 kg. | |
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