Cucumis anguria (West Indian gherkin).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Editorial Committee ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Tropical Plants ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Female Flowers

Abstract Genetics: The chromosome number reported for Cucumis anguria is 2n=24 (Ramachandran and Narayan, 1990; Flora of North America Editorial Committee, 2020). Reproductive Biology: Cucumis anguria is a monoecious species, with individual male and female flowers appearing on both plants, that depends of pollinators to transfer pollen grains in order to produce fruits. Although self-fertile, a degree of outcrossing results from insect pollination. Zagorcheva (1988) has suggested that C. anguria may also be a facultative apomict. The flowering season is of about 55-58 days. Male flowers appear before female flowers and both male and female flowers remain open for one day (from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm). The relationship between male and female flowers is on average 5.5 male flowers for each female flower. The greater number of male flowers compared to female flowers produces a greater flow of pollen in the crop and ensures pollination. Flowers are visited and pollinated by insects. In a study in Brazil, the most important visitor was Apis mellifera (72% of all visits) followed by native bees from the genera Plebeia sp. (16.7%), Exomalopsis sp. (8.3%) and Melissodes sp. (2.8%). Flowers are also visited by butterflies (Malerbo-Souza et al., 2020). Physiology and Phenology: Cucumis anguria is an annual species. Early growth is upright, followed by branching at the base to produce several trailing stems. Within its native distribution range, this species germinates in a few days during the summer rains when night temperatures are above 12°C and the soil is sufficiently wet. When plants are about 2-3 m length, they start to develop flowers. Fruits are often produced within 60 days after germination. Plants may produce up to 50 fruits per stem. Fruits remain attached to the withered annual stems long after these have died back at the end of the growing season (Wilkins-Ellert, 2004). Photoperiod is important and longer days coupled with higher temperatures confines plants to the production of male flowers. Shorter days and a drop in temperature stimulate the production of female flowers. Fruiting occurs within 60 days of planting and fruit are produced continuously, with as many as 50 fruits per plant produced during the growing season (Wilkins-Ellert, 2004). Environmental Requirements: Cucumis anguria prefers to grow in tropical and subtropical climates. It grows best in areas with mean annual temperatures ranging from 15°C to 28°C (tolerates 8°C-35°C) and mean annual rainfall between 800 mm-1000 mm (tolerates 300 mm-1700 mm). It is well adapted to soils with low fertility and is adapted to grow in a wide range of soil types, including Kalahari sands (regosols), red clays and black cotton soils (vertisols) with pH in the range 6-7.5 (tolerates 5.5 - 8.3), but it grows best on well drained sandy soils (Fernandes, 2011). This species is sensitive to cold and does not tolerate frost (Wilkins-Ellert, 2004; Useful Tropical Plants, 2020).

scholarly journals Going to great lengths: selection for long corolla tubes in an extremely specialized bat–flower mutualism

2009 ◽  
Vol 276 (1665) ◽  
pp. 2147-2152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Muchhala ◽  
James D. Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Pollen Transfer ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Selective Pressures ◽  
Flight Cage ◽  
Visit Duration ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Tongue Length ◽  
Female Flowers

In a hypothesis that has remained controversial since its inception, Darwin suggested that long-tubed flowers and long-tongued pollinators evolved together in a coevolutionary race, with each selecting for increasing length in the other. Although the selective pressures that flowers impose on tongue length are relatively straightforward, in that longer tongues allow access to more nectar, selective pressures that pollinators impose on flower length are less clear. Here, we test for such selective pressures in the highly specialized mutualism between the nectar bat Anoura fistulata , which can extend its tongue twice as far as other nectar bats, and Centropogon nigricans , which has flowers of a similar length (8–9 cm). We used flight cage experiments to examine the effects of artificially manipulated flower lengths on (i) bat behaviour and (ii) pollen transfer. Increased length produced longer visits, but did not affect the force bats applied during visits. In the second experiment, flower length increased both the male and female components of flower function: long male flowers delivered more pollen grains and long female flowers received more pollen grains. However, pollen transfer was not correlated with visit duration, so the mechanism behind differences in pollen transfer remains unclear. By demonstrating that bats select for increasing flower length, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that A. fistulata evolved its remarkable tongue in a coevolutionary race with long-tubed flowers similar to that envisioned by Darwin.

Differential nectar production between male and female flowers in a wild cucurbit: Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana (Cucurbitaceae)

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (11) ◽  
pp. 1203-1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorena Ashworth ◽  
Leonardo Galetto
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Male Flower ◽  
Female Flower ◽  
Cucurbita Maxima ◽  
Nectar Production ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Nectar Sugar Composition ◽  
Nectar Sugar ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Female Flowers

In dioecious and monoecious plants that depend on animal vectors for reproduction, pollinators have to be attracted to male and female flowers for pollination to be effective. In the monoecious Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, male flowers are produced in greater quantity, are spatially more exposed to pollinators and offer pollen in addition to nectar as floral rewards. Nectar traits were compared between male and female flowers to determine any differences in the characteristics of the main reward offered to pollinators. Nectar chemical composition and sugar proportions were similar between flower types. Total nectar sugar production per female flower was threefold higher than per male flower, and nectar removal did not have any effect on total nectar production in both flower morphs. Pollinators reduced nectar standing crops to similar and very scarce amounts in both flower types. Results indicate indirectly that pollinators are consuming more nectar from female flowers, suggesting that the higher nectar production in female flowers may be a reward-based strategy to achieve the high female reproductive output observed in this species.Key words: Cucurbitaceae, Cucurbita maxima ssp. andreana, nectar production, nectar sugar composition, removal effects, standing crop.

scholarly journals Pollen load and distribution on the body of Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) within oil palm plantations

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Van Basten Tambunan ◽  
Bandung Sahari ◽  
Damayanti Buchori ◽  
Purnama Hidayat
Keyword(s):  
Oil Palm ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Pollen Load ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Pollen Distribution ◽  
Male To Female ◽  
Female Flowers ◽  
Elaeidobius Kamerunicus

<p>The African oil palm weevil,<strong> </strong><em>Elaeidobius kamerunicus</em> is an effective pollinator of oil palm. Each individual palm produces exclusively male or female inflorescence so that the success of pollination depends on the ability of the pollinator to transfer pollen from male to female flowers. The objective of this research was to study the amount of pollen carried by <em>E. kamerunicus</em> between male and female inflorescences (pollen load) and the amount of pollen carried on each part of the weevil’s body (pollen distribution). Fifty each of male and female  <em>E. kamerunicus</em> individuals were collected from male and female flowers on trees in 3 locations: Siantar (North Sumatra), Dramaga (West Java), and Morowali (Central Sulawesi). Data on pollen load and pollen distribution on the weevil’s body were analyzed using <em>ImageJ</em> software. Results show that <em>E. kamerunicus</em> individuals collected more pollen from male flowers than from female flowers. In addition, male insects carried more pollen on their bodies than female insects. Pollen distribution on weevil body parts was highest on the elytra, followed by the thorax, abdomen, legs, and head respectively.</p>

Biology of Australian seagrasses: Floral development and morphology in Amphibolis (Cymodoceaceae)

1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 251 ◽  
Author(s):  
CA McConchie ◽  
SC Ducker ◽  
RB Knox
Keyword(s):  
Floral Development ◽  
Female Flower ◽  
Floral Meristem ◽  
Ovary Wall ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Mature Flower ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Lateral Branches ◽  
Floral Vasculature ◽  
Female Flowers

Floral development of male and female flowers in Amphibolis antarctica and A. griffithii was followed from the initiation of the floral meristem to the mature flower. In A. antarctica the flowers form on lateral branches, while in A. griffithii they may also develop terminally on an upright branch from the rhizome. A. griffithii and. to a lesser extent, A. antarctica, show sympodial branching from the floral axis. The female flower develops from a pair of primordia; in A. griffithii these primordia each develop three stigmas, which in A. antarctica subsequently may form secondary branches. The. ovary wall bears the initials of the future grappling apparatus, comprising four comb initials in A. grijjjthii and a further inner set of horns in A. antarctica. The female flowers of Amphibolis are unique amongst the members of the Cymodoceaceae in being subtended by a bract or perianth, similar to the male flowers. Differences between the floral vasculature and intravaginal squamulae are presented for both species.

Nitrogen needs of wheat. 2. Grain yield response to nitrogenous fertilizer

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (90) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
AC Taylor ◽  
RR Storrier ◽  
AR Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Soil Tests ◽  
Available Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogenous Fertilizer ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Average Annual Rainfall

In southern New South Wales, the increase in wheat yield due to nitrogenous fertilizer (34 kg N ha-1) was examined against a wide range of controlled and uncontrolled factors over three years in which rainfall was generally above average. The controlled factors included paddock history, cultural aspects and a range of nitrogen soil tests. Multivariate regression procedures were used in the examination. Average annual rainfall was a major determinant of fertilizer response patterns. Overall, soil nitrate (0-30 cm) was superior to paddock history and to other soil tests in predicting responses to added nitrogen. In the west (average annual rainfall 400 to 550 mm), nitrogen applications were profitable when soil nitrate levels were low, but only if growing season rain was at least average. At each soil nitrate level, responses to applied nitrogen declined as average annual rainfall increased. In the east (average annual rainfall greater than 550 mm), responses to added nitrogen were profitable at all nitrate levels, provided growing season rain was not limiting. The magnitude of the responses was related to the level of potentially available nitrogen in the soil (0-10 cm) rather than to nitrate.

scholarly journals Floração e morfologia floral de variedades de melancieira em Juazeiro-BA

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
P. M. Duarte ◽  
K. M. M. de Siqueira ◽  
N. C. da Silva ◽  
G. B. S. Silva ◽  
Í. L. S. Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Floral Morphology ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Female Flower ◽  
Floral Resources ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Design For All ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Female Flowers

<p>A melancieira apresenta comumente flores masculinas e femininas na mesma planta, necessitando assim dos serviços de polinização para a transferência dos grãos de pólen e consequente produção de frutos. A atratividade aos polinizadores está na dependência dos recursos florais oferecidos como recompensa durante as visitas, e como consequência a planta é beneficiada com a polinização. O objetivo desse trabalho foi registrar aspectos relevantes da floração incluindo a razão sexual e a descrição da morfologia floral de variedades de melancieira. As variedades demelancieira utilizadas foram, Congo, Elisa, Crimson super e Charleston super, em cultivo orgânico, com irrigação por gotejamento. Foram avaliados quatro tratamentos e quatro repetições, utilizando o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado. Para todas as variedades analisadas, foi registrada a emissão inicial de flores masculinas. Não foi registrada diferença significativa na emissão de flores femininas entre as variedades, porém para as flores masculinas a variedade Congo apresentou um maior número. Foi registrada diferença nas características da morfologia floral entre variedades e tipos florais em relação ao diâmetro e altura da flor. A presença de flores hermafroditas foi registrada com média de 1,45 (Crimson) a 0,15 flores por planta (Congo). A variedade Charleston apresentou a menor média de dias para a emissão da primeira flor feminina em relação a masculina (4,6±2,81) já a Congo apresentou a maior média (9,05±3,28). A menor razão sexual foi registrada para a variedade Elisa(1:13,32) e a maior para a Congo (1:24,05). Os menores períodos de floração foram registrados para as variedades Crimson e Elisa.</p><p> </p><p align="center"><strong><em>Flowering and floral morphology of watermelon varieties in Juazeiro-BA</em></strong></p><p><strong>Abstract-</strong> The watermelon commonly presents male and female flowers on the same plant, thus requiring the pollination services for the transfer of pollen grains and consequent production of fruits. The attractiveness to pollinators is dependent on the floral resources offered as a reward during visits and as a result the plant benefits from pollination. The objective of this study was to record important aspects of flowering including sex ratio and the description of floral morphology of varieties of watermelon. The varieties of watermelon were used, Congo, Elisa, super super Crimson and Charleston in organic farming, drip irrigation. Four treatments and four repetitions were performed using a completely randomized design. For all varieties analyzed, it was registered the initial issue of male flowers. It did not record significant difference in the issue of female flowers between varieties, but the male flowers to the Congo variety presented more. There was recorded differences in the characteristics of morphology flower varieties and types in relation to the height and flower diameter. The presence of hermaphrodite flowers was recorded with an average of 1.45 (Crimson) 0.15 flowers per plant (Congo). The Charleston variety had the lowest average number of days to issue the first female flower compared to males (4.6 ± 2.81) since the Congo had the highest average (9.05 ± 3.28). The lowest sex ratio was recorded for the variety Elisa (1: 13.32) and the highest for the Congo (1: 24.05). The smallest flowering periods were recorded for the Crimson and Elisa varieties. </p>

scholarly journals Transcriptome-based analysis of the hormone regulation mechanism of gender differentiation in Juglans mandshurica Maxim

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12328
Author(s):  
Baiting Qin ◽  
Xiujun Lu ◽  
Xiaomei Sun ◽  
Jianguo Cui ◽  
Jifeng Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Female Flower ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Regulation Mechanism ◽  
Juglans Mandshurica ◽  
Flower Buds ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Gender Differentiation ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Female Flowers

Juglans mandshurica Maxim is a hermaphroditic plant belonging to the genus Juglans in the family Juglandaceae. The pollination period of female flowers is different from the loose powder period of male flowers on the same tree. In several trees, female flowers bloom first, whereas in others, male flowers bloom first. In this study, male and female flower buds of J. mandshurica at the physiological differentiation stage were used. Illumina-based transcriptome sequencing was performed, and the quality of the sequencing results was evaluated and analyzed. A total of 138,138 unigenes with an average length of 788 bp were obtained. There were 8,116 differentially expressed genes (DEGs); 2,840 genes were upregulated, and 5,276 genes were downregulated. The DEGs were classified by Gene Ontology and analyzed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. The signal transduction factors involved in phytohormone synthesis were selected. The results displayed that ARF and SAUR were expressed differently in the auxin signaling pathway. Additionally, DELLA protein (a negative regulator of gibberellin), the cytokinin synthesis pathway, and A-ARR were downregulated. On April 2nd, the contents of IAA, GA, CTK, ETH and SA in male and female flower buds of two types of J. mandshurica were opposite, and there were obvious genes regulating gender differentiation. Overall, we found that the sex differentiation of J. mandshurica was related to various hormone signal transduction pathways, and hormone signal transduction plays a leading role in regulation.

scholarly journals Sexual dimorphism in floral scents of the neotropical orchid Catasetum arietinum and its possible ecological and evolutionary significance

AoB Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Brandt ◽  
Isabel Cristina Machado ◽  
Daniela Maria do Amaral Ferraz Navarro ◽  
Stefan Dötterl ◽  
Manfred Ayasse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Floral Scent ◽  
Evolutionary Significance ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Floral Scents ◽  
First Case ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Euglossine Bee ◽  
Female Flowers

Abstract Dioecy in angiosperms is often associated with sexual dimorphism in floral traits other than the sexual organs. Species of the neotropical orchid genus Catasetum produce unisexual flowers characterized by a remarkable morphological sexual dimorphism. Catasetum species emit strong floral perfumes that act as both signal and reward for male euglossine bee pollinators. Although the role of floral perfumes of Catasetum in attracting euglossine pollinators is well investigated, little is known about whether perfumes differ between floral sexes and, if they do, whether this chemical dimorphism influences the pollination ecology of the plants. Taking Catasetum arietinum as a model species, our aim was to observe the behaviour of pollinators on male and female flowers and to compare scent properties (i.e. chemical composition, total amount and temporal fluctuation) of male and female flowers. Floral scent samples were collected by using dynamic headspace methods and were analysed via gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Catasetum arietinum is pollinated by males of two Euglossa species (i.e. E. nanomelanotricha and E. securigera). Bees approached male and female inflorescences of C. arietinum in similar proportions but landed significantly more often and spent more time on female flowers, which emitted more scent than male flowers. Furthermore, the amount of scent emitted varied across the different times of sampling, corresponding to the pattern of the diel foraging activity of pollinating bees on male and female flowers. The chemical composition of scents differed significantly between sexes. The two major compounds (Z)-methyl-p-methoxycinnamate and (E)-geranyl geraniol contributed most to this difference. This is the first case of sexual dimorphism reported in orchid floral perfumes. We discuss the influence of sex-specific floral scents on the behaviour of euglossine pollinators and offer new insights into the ecological and evolutionary significance of divergence in floral scents among dioecious plants.

scholarly journals Reproductive biology in monoecious and gynoecious cucumber cultivars as a result of IBA application

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-34
Author(s):  
Valdir Diola ◽  
Afonso I Orth ◽  
Miguel P Guerra
Keyword(s):  
Cucumis Sativus ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Linear Response ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Sexual Expression ◽  
Seed Number ◽  
General Aspect ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Female Flowers

The understanding of both the reproductive biology and the regulation of the sexual expression of cucumber flowers (Cucumis sativus) makes crop management easier and can improve fruit yield and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological answer of cucumber floral verticils to the application of IBA. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in completely randomized blocks, with four replications of 4-plant plots, and treatments applied to a 5 x 2 factorial (0, 50, 100, 200, and 500 µmol of IBA, and two cultivars: Wisconsin MR28, gynoecious, and Caipira, monoecious). Cultivar Wisconsin MR28 produced in average 7,636 pollen grains (PG) per flower, with a positive linear response to the increase in IBA concentration. Instead, in cultivar Caipira (5,160 PG) all IBA concentrations reduced PG production. Cultivars did not differ from each other in relation to PG viability (average in vitrogermination of 75.4 and 79.9% to cultivars Wisconsin MR28 and Caipira, respectively) and in both PG viability increased linearly with the increase in AIB concentration. Cultivars Wisconsin MR28 and Caipira presented in average 71.6 and 70.6 seeds per fruit respectively, and responded with an increase in seed number and improvement in fruit general aspect to the rise in IBA concentration. The ratio male:female flowers was significantly different between cultivars (4.2:1 and 3.5:1, respectively to cultivars Wisconsin MR28 and Caipira) and responded in a distinct way to IBA concentrations. While in cultivar Caipira, IBA concentrations near to 100 µmol increased the number of male flowers; in cultivar Wisconsin MR28 the same IBA concentration reduced it. The two cultivars had a similar number of female flowers. However, whereas it remained relatively stable in cultivar Caipira in spite of the increase in IBA concentration, there was an increase in the number of female flowers in cultivar Wisconsin MR28, as a result of the rise in IBA concentration.

scholarly journals Floral Biology of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F.)

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 482-488
Author(s):  
Lawrence Stephen FAYEUN ◽  
Alexander Chukwunweike ODIYI ◽  
Ayodele Moruf ADEBISI ◽  
Lateef Akinkunle HAMMED ◽  
David Kolawole OJO
Keyword(s):  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Female Flower ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Fluted Pumpkin ◽  
Telfairia Occidentalis ◽  
Insect Visitation ◽  
Male Flowers ◽  
Bud Initiation ◽  
Female Flowers

Knowledge of floral biology is essential to crop improvement. Ten genotypes of fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) were observed for floral morphology, phenology and insect visitation for two consecutive years. Functional dioecy of fluted pumpkin was confirmed, whereas none of the studied genotypes was monoecious. Floral structures differed significantly among the genotypes. Both male and female flowers were symmetrical, pentasepalous, fimbriate and non-bright pentapetalous, but male flowers were more numerous. Male inflorescences emerged from 11 to 14 weeks after planting and the female flower buds appeared about 4 weeks later. The flowering period of the male flowers was longer than that of female flowers and both gender flowering periods coincided for a specific interval. It took between 11 to 14 days from bud initiation to anthesis and flowering ceased when there were occurrences of successful fruits set. In both gender flowers petals started unfurling at around 6.00 pm and full bloom was achieved by dawn, while petal shrivelled at sun set (between 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm). The anthers dehisced at anthesis of the male flowers; the pollen grains were whitish and sticky. Only the male flowers have nectar and pollen and this may explain infrequent female flowers visitation. Hover flies (Cheilosia species) were the major floral visitors observed. 

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