Studies on floral biology and autogamy in niger [Guizotia abyssinica (L.t.) Cass]

A study was undertaken for systematic understanding of floral biology and to study the effect of selfing on seed set in six niger [Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass] populations at GKVK, Bangalore during 2001. The results revealed that, anthesis took place during 8.00 AM to 8.45 AM and disc florets open up to 10.30 AM during sunny days and up to 11.30 AM during cooler days at Bangalore conditions. The number of heads open ranged from 2 to 5 with a flowering period of about 6 to 7 days. Percent seed set ranged from 0.10 to 2.11% when bagging a single capitulum; zero to 5.35% seed set when bagging two capitulum; 3.33 to 10.16% seed set when bagging three capitula; zero to 1.415% seed set when bagging a single branch and 2.43 to 4.68% seed set when bagging a whole plant. This phenomenon could be attributed to self-incompatibility in niger. Under open pollinated condition, percent seed set ranged from 26.32 to 56.57% with a mean of 42.59% among the six populations. The maximum percentage of seed set was recorded in KBN-90 (56.57%) and minimum was recorded in Kanakapura local (26.30).