Fruit Development of Malva Nut (Scaphium affine (Mast.) Pierre) From Flower)

Abstract

Fruit development from flower of 30-year natural malva nut trees were studied at Khao Kitchakut district. Chanthaburi province during February – April 2009. The objectives were to investingate type, growth, colour change of fruit, seed gel forming and seed germ inability. It was found that malva nut fruiting flower developed into an aggregate fruit, dry dehiscent fruit and follicle. A pericarp opened on the third week after blooming. The growth of fruit and seed, were s-shape, taken 7 weeks from blooming to maturity or the falling time. Most of the fruit had 2-3 fruitlet at the first week after blooming. Many young fruitlets dropped at the beginning of the third week. When the fruits were mostly mature, had only 1 fruitlet with 1 seed. The average fruit of mature infructescence was 3.2 fruitlets or 0.53% of their florets. Pericarps were violet (1.25R 4/12) at the first week, and become green (2.5GY 7/8) at 2-6^th weeks, and light brown (10YR 6/6) at the 7^th week. For the seed colour, seed were light yellow (10Y 9/4) at the first 2 week, become green (2.5GY 7/8) at 3-6^th weeks and dark brown (2.5YR 3/4) at the 7^th week. The seed coat of the 3^rd week seeds could start forming a little gel. Gel increased, were depending on the number of weeks after blooming. The mature seeds could form the most gel. Neither the younger than 5 week seed after blooming nor the mature seed with storage over 6 weeks could germinate. The 5-6 weeks seeds after blooming and the mature seed under storage, in the open air at room temperature, over 6 weeks could not germinate with normal seeding. The mature seed after begin harvested could germinate in 1 day, with the highest germination percentage as will as normal seeding. One malva nut seed produced only 1 seeding with epigeal germination.