Floral biology and pollination behaviour of Giant Himalayan Lily (Cardiocarinum giganteum Wall.) - A new emerging ornamental plant in the Garhwal Himalayas Lal Surendra, Nautiyal B.P., Bisht A.S.* College of Horticulture, VCSG University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, (Pauri Garhwal), Uttarakhand-246123, India *E-mail: drbishtas@gmail.com
Online Published on 19 March, 2024. Abstract Cardiocrinum giganteum is a perennial, endangered medicinal herb and ornamental plant of family Liliaceae, distributed in temperate areas. The study of reproductive biology is necessary for the effective conservation of endangered plants and pollination behaviour is an integral part of reproductive biology. The present study deals with the pollination behaviour and floral biology of C. giganteum. Autogamy, geitonogamy, natural pollination, open cross-pollination and xenogamy experiments were applied in this study. The different parameters for floral biology and fruit set were recorded on the basis of time period. It was revealed from the data that the total span of flower bud development from bud emergence to the anthesis passes through six different stages. Time and duration of flowering recorded between 1st week of June to last week of July. Flowering (peak) takes place during the month of June – July and peak period of anthesis (9.4%) was recorded between 8 am to 10 am. The peak period of anthers dehiscence (24.2%) was observed between 10 am to 12 noon. The best receptivity of stigma (80.00%) was witnessed on the day of anthesis by the fruit set method. The maximum pod set (96.66%) has been recorded under hand cross-pollination followed by natural pollination (93.33%). The species is self-pollinated but dependent on pollinators for optimum pollination. Based on present studies, it can be concluded that the mid-June to 1st week of July period found suitable for conducting crop improvement work through sexual methods in Giant Himalayan Lily under the temperate region of Uttarakhand. Top Keywords Flowering characteristics, Breeding system, Stigma receptivity, Pollen viability, Pollination. Top |