SEXUAL CROSSING BETWEEN 2 GENETICALLY FEMALE PLANTS AND SEX GENETICS OF KAKROL (MOMORDICA-DIOICA ROXB)

Application of 200 to 800 mg/l silver nitrate (AgNO3) to the female ka krol or teasle gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.) plant was effective for inducing hermaphrodite flowers. Pollen grain viability of the hermaphr odite flowers was as high as that of normal male flowers. Crossing amo ng female genotypes of different fruit morphotypes, taking pollen from the induced hermaphrodite flowers, produced fruits and seeds. Sex of hybrids between female and normal male segregated into male and female in equal proportion, while the hybrids from female home-sexual crosse s produced only female plants. This indicated that sex of kakrol is co ntrolled by a single factor; male being heterozygous and the female is homozygous recessive. The possibility to evaluate both parents for fr uit characteristics should facilitate breeding.