Sexual reproduction in Garcinia indica with special reference to various floral types, pollen structure, pollen viability and pollen germination on stigmatic surface

In India there are 35 Garcinia species distributed in Western and Eastern Ghats. Amongst these Garcinia indica is highly endemic and restricted to mainly two districts of Maharashtra Ratnagiri and Sindhudurga. For clonal propagation of the species location wise studies at different regions were undertaken at morphological and molecular level. Being an insect pollinated polygamodioecious plant Garcina indica was expected to exhibit a high degree of variability. Though there was lot of variability at morphological level, there was much less (3-12%) polymorphism at molecular level. The reason for high endemism might be less polymorphism and this might be due to unique mode of sexual reproduction i.e., apomixes. Garcinia atrovirides is facultatively apomictic while G. mangostana is true apomictic. Hence a detailed study was undertaken to study reproductive behaviour of G. indica. The present study deals with various floral types found in male female and bisexual plants of G. indica. The structure of pollen grains, pollen fertility, and % pollen germination in vitro, in various floral types were noted. Pollen germination on stigmatic surface was also studied in naturally as well as artificially pollinated flowers. The changes occurring on stigmatic surface at the time of anthesis, formation of stylar canal leading to female gametophyte were also documented.