U.P. Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Kanpur
**Present address: Horticulturist, Government Valley Fruit Research Station, Srinagar (Garhwal).
*Part of the Ph.D. thesis in Horticulture submitted to Kanpur University (1970).
The inflorescences in Java plum (Jatnun) are generally borne in the axils of leaves on 5 months to one year old branchlets. The floral buds assumed a club shaped appearance by the first week of March, and the flowering started from the last week of March and continued upto the last week of April. The trees were in full bloom during the second to third week of April and each inflorescence carried about 35 to 45 flowers. The maximum anthesis and dehiscence was recorded between 10 A.M. and 12 noon. The size of the pollen-grains in aniline oil gentian-voilet, water, aceto-carmine and methyl-green glycerine jelly was 17.88, 18.60, 16.32 and 14.34 microns respectively. A few giant sized (24.50 microns) pollen-grains were also observed. The pollen fertility was higher in the beginning of the season and it decreased as the season advanced. Twenty per cent sucrose solution gave the maximum pollen germination and tube length. The pollen could be successfully stored for 9 months at a temperature of —23°C in completely dry atmosphere. The stigma became receptive one day prior to anthesis and remained receptive upto 5 days after anthesis. The maximum receptivity was, however, observed one day after anthesis.
