Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Salna, Gazipur 1703, Bangladesh
* Present address: Division of Genetics, IARI, New Delhi 110 012
Application of silver nitrate (AgNO3) at different concentrations (50-2,000 mg/litre) showed toxic effect on treated vines. Toxicity increased at higher concentrations. The treated vines died at the concentration of 1,200-2,000 mg/litre. Of the treatments, only 800 and 1000 mg/litre of AgNO3 produced hermaphrodite flowers. Several morphological changes occurred in hermaphrodite flowers. Among them, tri-furcated stigma fused together and made a single structure and 3 anthers developed. The newly-developed rudimentary anther was not able to produce pollen grains. The flowers treated with 100–1000 mg/litre of AgNO3 induced parthenocarpic fruits. In all aspects, pathenocarpic fruits showed lower performance compared to normal open-pollinated fruits.
