Reproductive Biology And Phenological Observation of Three Calamus Species in Peninsular Malaysia
Knowledge on reproductive biology is important for genetic improvements program. This study aimed at determining the reproductive biology and phenological behavior of Calamus palustris Griff. var. malaccensis Becc., Calamus scipionum Loureiro, and Calamus ornatus Blume., from natural populations...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2000
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10010/1/FH_2000_3_IR.pdf |
| Summary: | Knowledge on reproductive biology is important for genetic improvements
program. This study aimed at determining the reproductive biology and
phenological behavior of Calamus palustris Griff. var. malaccensis Becc.,
Calamus scipionum Loureiro, and Calamus ornatus Blume., from natural
populations. Seven sites throughout Peninsular Malaysia i.e. Hutan Simpan Mata
Ayer, Bukit Larik, Setia Enggor, Linggi, Batu Kurau, Bukit Besi and Ulu Serting
were chosen for the studies. In the basic study, observations on the reproductive
biology including floral morphology, phenology and regeneration behaviour were
made.
For the study on floral morphology, only C. scipionum and C. palustris
were selected. The flower structures of C. scipionum and C. palustris were similar. The differences noted were in the colour and sizes of the flowers. The
male flowers of C. scipionum were dark brown and yellowish in C. paiustris. The
female flowers of C. paiustris were pale yellow in colour and dark brown in
C. scipionum. In terms of flower size, both male and female flowers of C.
scipionum were bigger than those of C. paiustris and for each species female
flowers were bigger than male flowers.
C. scipionum had longer inflorescences and main rachis compared to C.
paiustris. However, there were no differences in terms of the number of main
rachis and rachilla per inflorescence and rachilla length. In the female
inflorescence, C. scipionum had longer inflorescence, longer main rachis and also
contained more rachilla compared to C. paiustris.
Differences in the timing of flowering and fruiting were observed among
the different climatic zones in all the three species. Fruit production took 8-9
months for C. paiustris and 12-13 months for C. scipionum and C. ornatus.
However, the variation on number of C. paiustris wildings occurring under the
rubber plantation and forested areas showed no significant difference. The
information gained for this study can be used for breeding and genetic
improvement programme for these species. |
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