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- Title
Fruit production in Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz under two contrasting conditions.
- Authors
Lalnunmawia, F.; Khanduri, V. P.; Zonunsanga, Francis
- Abstract
A study was conducted on the fruit production after gregarious flowering of muli bamboo (Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz.) in 2005-2006 under two different conditions viz. undisturbed natural bamboo forest and burned bamboo area for shifting cultivation. The regular once-every-48-year flowering in Mizoram is well recorded in this species (Banik, 1998; Lalramnghinglova, 2003). It was observed that the density of culms differ significantly in the two study sites. Higher density was observed in the burned area with the number of culms recorded as 25 culms/9m⊃2, whereas in case of natural bamboo forest the density was 21 culms/9m⊃2. Obviously culms height was very low in burnt area. It was interesting to note that the number of fruits produced per culm in burned area was higher (37 fruits/culm) as compared to that of natural bamboo forest ( 17 fruits /culm. This variation in production of fruits may be due to high level of protogyny in natural forest as compared to the burnt bamboo area, which we have observed during flowering period. Contrary to this, the size and weight of fruits was observed significantly greater under natural bamboo forest. The details are presented in Table 1. Troup (1921) has also observed very low fruit setting in M. baccifera. The low fruit to flower ratio can be inferred to be a sequence of selection to over produce flowers (Wilson and Price, 1977; Lee, 1988; Stephenson, 1981; Udovic, 1981; Cohen and Ducas, 1990; Erhlem, 1991) and might be due to strong protogyny. The fruits remain viable for about 30 days in normal condition and the rates of seed germination in the nursery vary between 60 and 80 percent. However, vivipary (germination before release from the plant) is a common phenomenon observed in this species. This study was carried out in the Thentlang bamboo forest of Serchhip District of Mizoram, India, which is located at an altitude of 1000-1086 m asl. The temperature of the study area ranges from 18-34°C during summer (April to August) and 4-28°C during winter (October to February). The average annual rainfall ranges between 250 and 300 cm. The production of fruits of M. baccifera was studied under two contrasting conditions: (i) felled and burned bamboo forest (ii) undisturbed bamboo forest. Three study plots of 0.1 ha were laid out for the purpose in each site. Within each study plot, 5 quadrats of 3m x 3m were laid randomly to study the density of culms and production of fruits. Estimation of fruit production per culm was made by felling 10 culms in each quadrat and a total of 50 culms per study plot and counting was done manually. The harvested fruits were brought to the laboratory for qualitative measurements i.e., fruit weight, length and diameter, and viability tests.
- Subjects
MIZORAM (India); RESEARCH; FRUIT; PRODUCTION (Economic theory); BAMBOO; GERMINATION; AGRICULTURE
- Publication
Bamboo Science & Culture, 2007, Vol 20, Issue 1, p26
- ISSN
1535-7635
- Publication type
Article