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July 7, 2023
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October 9, 2023
Published
February 7, 2024
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Abstract

Floral morphology and fruit diversity are two essential attributes of a plant to establish mutualistic association with pollinators. Pollinators will have a direct influence on fruit setting and yield. The present paper represents the floral morphology and fruit diversity of six wild melon genotypes (Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis).  The staminate and pistillate flowers were analysed for their size, sepal and petal colour and pedicel length. It was observed that female flowers of wild genotypes were longer than male flowers, however male flowers possessed larger diameter, longer pedicel length and corolla length over female flowers. Among the six genotypes studied, HUB-13 produced maximum male flowers per vine (156.75), longest female flower (5.33 cm), longest pedicel and corolla and largest ovary (6.11 mm diameter). Genotype HUB-4 produced maximum female flowers per vine (39.50) with lower male to female sex ratio (2.65:1) and recorded longest male flower length (4.43 cm).  Genotype, HUB-2 recorded lowest flower length (2.40 cm, 2.85 cm) and diameter, smallest corolla length (1.25 cm, 1.13 cm) and pedicel length (1.05 cm and 0.50 cm) for male and female  flowers respectively. The sepals and petals were green and yellow in colour respectively with varied intensity. The genotype, HUB-9 recorded maximum ovary length (1.83 cm), fruit weight (86.03 g), fruit yield per vine (1.98 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (9.48 t/ha).

Keywords

Corolla colour Floral morphology Flower size Fruit diversity Sex ratio

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Author Biographies

Vasant M. G., Department of Vegetable science, College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India

Professor, Department of Vegetable science, College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot, 560 065, Karnataka, India

Kotresh, K, Department of Botany, Karnataka College, Dharwad, Karnataka, India

Professor, Department of Botany, Karnataka College, Dharwad, 580 001, Karnataka, India

How to Cite
Kalyan Chakravarthi G., Vasant, M. G., Bhuvaneshwari G., Evoor, S., Hadlageri, R. S., T H, S., & K, K. (2024). Studies on floral morphology and fruit diversity in wild melon (Cucumis melo L.ssp. agrestis (Naudin) Pangalo var. agrestis Naudin). Environment Conservation Journal, 25(1), 184–191. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.24362649
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