Floral and reproductive biology of Clitoria ternatea L. (Shankupushpi)

Abstract

Clitoria ternatea L., commonly known as butterfly pea, is an underutilized leguminous plant with considerable medicinal, ornamental and nutraceutical value. Despite its economic potential, limited information exists on its reproductive biology, which is critical for breeding and seed production. The present study was conducted to investigate floral biology, pollen viability, in vitro pollen germination and stigma receptivity in 12 contrasting genotypes. Significant morphological divergence was observed between single and double petalled types, the former exhibiting papilionaceous corolla, while the latter showed non-papilionaceous corolla. Anthesis occurred predominantly between 8:00-11:00 AM across genotypes. Pollen viability was consistently high (>96%) at anthesis. in vitro pollen germination ranged from 79.52% to 91.81%, with pollen tube lengths varying between 1,269.41 µm and 1,546.29 µm. Stigma receptivity was highest at anthesis and gradually declined after 24 hours. Double-petalled types exhibited comparatively lower pollinator visit due to complex floral structure. The study underscores the influence of floral architecture on reproductive success and provides valuable insights for breeding strategies aimed at balancing seed yield with and phytochemical utility.