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Pak. J. Bot., 42(1): 21-29, 2010.

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STUDIES ON FLORAL BIOLOGY OF PASSION FRUIT (PASSIFLORA SPP.)

KUNDAN KISHORE^1*, K.A. PATHAK², ROHIT SHUKLA³ AND RINKU BHARALI⁴

Abstract: Floral biology of purple, yellow, giant and Passiflora foetida was studied at the  ICAR Research Complex, Mizoram Centre, Kolasib, Mizoram, India during 2005-07. Purple, giant and P. foetida had major bloom during March-April, July-August and September-October. While major bloom in yellow was mainly during May-June and September-October. Purple, giant and P. foetida had the maximum duration of bloom of 42.4, 22.5 and 32.6 days, respectively during March-April with the maximum duration of effective bloom of 12.5 8.6 and 10.4 days in purple, giant and P. foetida, respectively. Yellow had the maximum duration of bloom for 28.4 days and effective bloom of 10.5 days during May-June. Most of the flowers of purple (54.5%) and giant (58.5%) opened between 6-7 hrs, while the maximum per cent of anthesis in yellow (70%) took place between 12-13 hrs. Pollen dehiscence and pollination in purple and giant mainly occurred between 7-8 hrs, while 13-14 hrs was the major period of pollen dehiscence and pollination in yellow. The earliest anthesis (5-6 hrs), anther dehiscence (6-7 hrs) and pollination (6-7 hrs) were recorded in P. foetida. The maximum stigma receptivity was recorded on the day of anthesis in all the passion fruits.  Completely curved style was more common in all passion fruits that gave the maximum fruit set. The maximum number of bees observed between 7-8 hrs in purple and giant and between 13-14 hrs in yellow. The most common pollinating bee in purple, giant and yellow was Apis mellifera, while A. cerena was in P. foetida

¹ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Sikkim Centre, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim, India

² ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Mizoram centre, Kolasib, Mizoram, India

³Directorate of Agriculture, Govt. of Mizoram, Aizawl, Mizoram, Indian

⁴ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Nagaland Centre, Jharnapani, Nagaland, India

^*Corresponding author’s E-mail: kkhort2003@yahoo.com