Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

PATTERN OF FLOWERING,C :OWER DEVELOPMENT AND ANTHESIS IN NUTMEG MIXED CROPPED IN COCONUT PLANTATION

K.Y. Shigvan, A.M. Tirmali, R.A. Kharat, M.P. Sanas, P.C. Mali and M.S. Shedge

Abstract

A study on flowering pattern, bud development and anthesis in tree spices nutmeg mixed cropped in coconut plantation was conducted under Dapoli conditions of Maharashtra. Three types of sex forms i.e. male, female and hermaphrodite were found in nutmeg. The flowers are creamy, bell shaped containing only anthers in male where as contains bibbed ovary in female. Hermaphrodite flowers had bibbed ovary covered with yellow pollen grains. Maximum shoots in nutmeg were flowered in the month of July in all three types i.e. male (81.33 %), Female (53.27%) and hermaphrodite (69.91%). Six stages of bud development were observed in female and hermaphrodite types where as it was five in male. Peak period of anthesis were observed at 3 to 4 a.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. in all three types. Flnwer development, Anthesis and Nutmeg