Flower morphology and reproductive biology of West Indian Cherry genotypes

Abstract

Flower morphology and reproductive biology knowledge of fruit crops may contribute to the development of castration and pollination tecniques. With this objective, flower structure and the biology of West Indian cherry genotypes were studied at Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. Flower morphology was evaluated by characterization, quantification and reproductive biology, from flower bud beginning until opening. West Indian Cherry flower is hermaphrodite with a calix of six or seven sepals, corolla of five petals, nine or ten glands in the lower region, ten stamen androecium and gyneceum with three or four pistils. The flowers are distributed in bunches of 3 to 13 units each, on the same year or on the latest year branches. Plants flower 6 to 7 times per year, mainly from January to May and August to December periods, with about 7 days elapsed from flower bud appearance to anthesis, wich occurs from 5h00 to 8h00 AM and from 2h00 to 4h00 PM. The flowering period endures from 22.1 to 29.4 days. The fruit ripeness occurs 22 days after flowering and the crop lasts 19.7 to 28.8 days.