Effect of growth substances on the expression of flowering and study on pollen viability of hermaphrodite & male ower in the female clone “Mondouri local†of Teasle gourd (Momordica subangulata Blume. subsp. renigera)

Foliar sprays with gibberellic acid (GA) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) of di erent concentra ons at pre-flowering stage induced hermaphrodite and male owers on strictly gynoecious vines of teasle gourd (Momordica subangulata Blume. subsp. renigera). GA at 1500 ppm and AgNO3at 500 ppm were effective inducing more than 50% male owers in the female clone “Mondouri local”. AgNO3 at 750 ppm was effective in inducing 36.6% male and 33.9% hermaphrodite owers on same plant. The hermaphrodite ower had higher pollen size (103.57 μm) compared to that of natural male ower (94.94 μm). However, there existed no variation between pollen viability of bisexual ower (81.6%) and normal male ower (89.1%). However, germinability of the pollen of hermaphrodite ower was very low (14.16%) producing very small pollen tube (9 μm), though the bisexual ower did not produce any fruit on self-pollination.