Characterisation of dioecy in nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.)
Loading...
Files
Date
1997
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara
Abstract
nvestigation on “Characterisation of dioecy in nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.)” was carried out in the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during 1995-97 to study the dioecious nature in nutmeg plants.
Among the different morphological characters studied such as plant height, spread of the plant, collar girth, height at branching and number of main branches in one meter length no significant differences were noted between male and females.
Among the leaf characters, average leaf width was found to be larger in female plants compared to male plants. The length by width ratio of leaves was found to be larger in male plants than in female plants.
The calcium oxalate crystal pattern in the lower leaf epidermis was not found to be a reliable indicator of sex because both in male and female plants rhomboidal and clustered crystal pattern were observed.
Among the biochemical characters studied, the essential oil content was found to be slightly higher in the female plant leaves than in those of male plants. But in the male leaves the phenol content was found to be slightly higher. The TLC profile of phenolic extract showed one phenolic spot with Rf value of 0.32 and a flavanoid spot with Rf value 1.0 which were same for both male and female plants.
With regard to the colour reaction of ammonium molybdate with leaf extracts of male and female plants, both male and female plants showed dark green and light green colour. The OD values were found to be highly varying though a general trend of high OD values was observed for female plants.
On electrophoresis a single fast moving protein band showing peroxidase activity was obtained which was found to be same for both male and female plants.
In seedlings the morphological characters studied showed high variation between individual plants. The observations did not confirm to a definite pattern and did not give any indication as far as sex is concerned.
Among the biochemical characters studied in seedlings, the phenol content was found to be lower in one year old plants than in two year old plants. The OD values of colour test with ammonium molybdate showed high variation between individual seedlings.
A discriminant function was developed with L/W ratio of leaf, stem diameter at branching and OD value of ammonium molybdate best as variables which gave discrimanant scores of sixty per cent accuracy to male and female plants.
Description
PG
Keywords
null
Citation
171268