Floral Biology of Fluted Pumpkin (<i>Telfairia occidentalis</i> Hook. F.)

Abstract

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.

Characterization of a sex-determining locus and development of early molecular assays in Telfairia occidentalis, a dioecious cucurbit

“…A possible in uence of environmental factors can hardly be excluded (Golenberg and West 2013; Renner 2014) and may have had an impact on those ve T. occidentalis samples showing inconsistency of genotype and phenotype. Finally, monoecious life forms of uted pumpkin have already been reported(Akoroda et al 1990) and, although not recently con rmed(Fayeun et al 2016), it should be considered that unlinked and undetected sex-determining loci could be involved which could have led to the unexpected phenotypes of the ve inconsistent uted pumpkin individuals from this study.…”

“…Due to their high productivity, cultivated landraces of T. occidentalis are maintained by small farmers as a major nutritional food and source of income for their livelihood. It is a dioecious owering plant in the Cucurbitaceae family (Fayeun et al 2016 (a); Okoli and Mgbeogu 1983), whose sex expression is likely genetically determined (Grumet and Taft 2011). Thought to originate from southern Nigeria, the species is mostly cultivated in West Africa for its nutritious and edible leaves as well as and healthy oils and protein-rich seeds (Akoroda 1990; Akoroda et al 1990;Badifu 1993;Okoli and Mgbeogu 1983).…”

Characterization of a sex-determining locus and development of early molecular assays in Telfairia occidentalisHook. F., a dioecious cucurbit

“…Due to their high productivity, cultivated landraces of T. occidentalis are maintained by small farmers as a major nutritional food and source of income for their livelihood. It is a dioecious flowering plant in the Cucurbitaceae family (Fayeun et al 2016a;Okoli and Mgbeogu 1983), whose sex expression is likely genetically determined (Grumet and Taft 2011). Thought to originate from Southern Nigeria, the species is mostly cultivated in West Africa for its nutritious and edible leaves as well as healthy oils and protein-rich seeds (Akoroda 1990;Akoroda et al 1990;Okoli and Mgbeogu 1983;Badifu 1993).…”

“…Since only female plants produce useful fruits containing seeds and larger succulent leaves than the males of T. occidentalis, they are considered more beneficial and male plants tend to be regarded as a waste of energy (Akoroda 1990;Chukwurah and Uguru 2010;Fayeun et al 2016b). Despite reports of morphological and floral differences between females and males (Chukwurah and Uguru 2010;Fayeun et al 2016a;Okoli and Mgbeogu 1983), neither morphological nor molecular traits have yet been identified to successfully support reliable sex determination of immature males versus females of T. occidentalis (Ndukwu et al 2005;Fayeun and Odiyi 2015).…”