Studies on the Floral Characters of Brinjal (Solanum Melongena L.) Varieties*

All the varieties studied, were observed to bear both solitary flowers and cymes, but the solitary flowers were more frequent in Talla and Islampuri. Shingnath produced highest number of flowers per inflorescence. Long styled types of flowers were maximum in the solitary flowers of all the varieties. Only Ishurdi 1 and Black Beauty had short styled types in the solitary flowers while others had only long styled and medium styled flowers. In the flowers samples of all kinds (solitary and cymes) the varieties bearing higher percentage of solitary flowers had maximum number of long styled flowers. The number of calyx lobes, corolla lobes and stamens were invariably in equal number in the same flowers of all the varieties. Number of floral parts were either same as the normal (calyx lobes-5, corolla lobes-5, stamens-5 and stigmatic lobes-2) or in excess but never less. Average circumference of fully developed solitary flower buds varied with the varieties.