Use of timelapse photography to determine flower opening time and pattern in banana (Musa spp.) for efficient hand pollination
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Reports
Abstract
Sterility and low seed set in bananas is the main challenge to their conventional genetic improvement.
The first step to seed set in a banana breeding program depends on pollination at the right time to
ensure effective fertilization. This study aimed at determining bract opening time (BOT) to enhance
efficient pollination and seed set in bananas. A Nikon D810 digital camera was set-up to take pictures
of growing banana inflorescences at five-minute intervals and time-lapse movies were developed at
a speed of 30 frames per second to allow real-time monitoring of BOT. Genotypes studied included
wild banana (1), Mchare (2), Matooke (4), Matooke hybrid (1), and plantain (1). Events of bract
opening initiated by bract lift for female flowers (P < 0.01) started at 16:32 h and at 18:54 h for male
flowers. Start of bract rolling was at 18:51 h among female flowers (P < 0.001) and 20:48 h for male
flowers. Bracts ended rolling at 02:33 h and 01:16 h for female and flowers respectively (P < 0.05).
Total time of bract opening (from lift to end of rolling) for female flowers was significantly longer
than that of male flowers (P < 0.001). On average, the number of bracts subtending female flowers
opening increased from one on the first day, to between one and four on the fourth day. The number
regressed to one bract on day eight before start of opening of bracts subtending male flowers. There
was a longer opening interval between bracts subtending female and male flowers constituting
spatial and temporal separation. Bract rolling increased from partial to complete rolling from proximal
to the distal end of the inflorescence among female flower. On the other hand, bracts subtending
male flowers completely rolled. Differences in BOT of genotypes with the same reference time of
assessment may be partly responsible for variable fertility. Hand pollination time between 07:00 and
10:00 h is slightly late thus an early feasible time should be tried.
Description
Keywords
Timelapse photography, Flower opening time, Banana (Musa spp.), Efficient hand pollination
Citation
Waniale, A., Swennen, R., Mukasa, S. B., Tugume, A. K., Kubiriba, J., Tushemereirwe, W. K., ... & Tumuhimbise, R. (2021). Use of timelapse photography to determine flower opening time and pattern in banana (Musa spp.) for efficient hand pollination. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98500-z