Floral biology and pollination of ampalaya (Momordica charantia)
2008
Cunanan-Deyto, R.A.
This study was conducted to determine the floral biology of ampalaya (Mimordica charantia L.) identify its pollinators and other floral visitors and compare the effectiveness of hand, insect and non-pollination methods on the quality and quantity of fruits and seeds. Flowering of ampalaya started 38 +- 3.5 days after planting with the development of male flowers earlier than the female flowers. The ratio of male to female flower was 19:1. Flower opening of ampalaya started at about 0300 h. It was fully opened at 0530 h to 1200 h. A successfully pollinated female flower started to set fruit two to five days after. Unpollinated flowers dried up completely after five days. The pollinators of ampalaya were honey bees (Apis mellifera and Apis cerana), stingless bees (Trigona sp.) and Halictus sp. Their activities synchronised with anthesis, and peaked at 0700 to 0800 h. The fruit and seed quality and quantity were evaluated in insect, hand, and non-pollinated (80%) plants were significantly higher than non-pollinated (0%). Percentage fruit set of ampalaya using the hand and insect pollination methods were not significantly different. Similarly, the weight, length, diameter and seed number of fruits harvested from the two pollination methods did not vary.
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