SOME ASPECTS OF REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF A PARASITIC FLOWERING PLANT, DENDROPHTHOE FALCATA (LINN.F.) ETTINGS

摘要

Some aspects of reproductive biology of the parasilic flowering plant, Dendrophthoe falcata have been studied. Studies on flowering phenology showed a single flowering peak in the month of April. Month-wise pollen count and pollen grain size has beentaken. A seasonal variation in both the pollen count and pollen grain size was found. The external morphology of the pollen grain was also observed from acetolysed grains. Studies on In vitro pollen germination and pollen tube growth were carried out toassess the various potentialities of pollen behaviour and vigour in various kinds of media. Among the various kinds of media used, the highest percentage of pollen germination and longer pollen tube length was noticed in potassium nitrate solution (100 mg/l) containing 12.5 percent sucrose. Pollen germination was inhibited in the sucrose solution supplemented with boric acid salt (100 mg/l). Pollen hislochemical studies revealed that, the pollen are starch rich and lipid poor.