General Histochemistry and enzyme Cytochemistry of the Female Reproductive Structure of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) Dc.

The reproductive biology of flowering plants is important for determining barriers to seed and fruit set, for conservation, and for understanding pollination and breeding systems that regulate the genetic structure of populations. Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC., commonly known as ‘winged bean’ is an underutilized leguminous crop, which has drawn worldwide attention due to its food value. Its seeds are highly proteinaceous in nature and can wipe away malnutrition from under developed countries. But there are several pit falls in developing this as a prominent food crop. An in depth knowledge of the reproductive organs of the plant is very much essential for overcoming these problems. The study of factors that control the reproductive process in higher plants necessitates a thorough knowledge of the pollen and gynoecium. While considerable information exists on the pollen and the ovary, not much is known about the stigma. In this context, the stigma morphology of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus L. Dc. was analyzed using both stereo and scanning electron microscopy. The study revealed that the stigma of winged bean is of the wet type with finger like papillae on the rim and thus coming under Group III according to the general classification.