Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 7 • Participatory Plant Breeding, Seed Production, Harvest, and Post-Harvest Management
Most cucurbits have a monoecious flower, which means that flowers of both sexes appear on
same plant. A flower can be either male or female. The flowers are thus incomplete, a typical
characteristic of cucurbits, which result mostly to their out-crossing or cross-pollinating in nature.
Other well-known crops with monoecious flowers are corn and cassava. Female flowers are easily
distinguishable by ovule (baby fruit) below petals, which develops into a fruit after pollination
of stigma. The ovule is divided into 4-5 segments, each with many egg cells. Male flowers have
anthers instead. Some varieties of melons and watermelons however also produce a small percentage
of complete flowers, that is, ‘female flowers’ with anthers.
In cucurbits, insects, such as bees, butterflies, flies, and beetles, primarily pollinate flowers. Insects
are attracted to visit flowers because of its color and nectar, and by doing so; they carry some pollen
to the next flower, thereby facilitating the pollination process. Besides color and smell, insect’s
visiting behavior is also strongly influenced by environmental factors, including day and night
fluctuations, sunshine and rainfall, and flower opening and closing. These aspects therefore, have a
profound influence on the pollination process.
In FFSs, many innovative experiences can be shared among farmers to understand the biological
processes involved in reproduction of cross-pollinated vegetable crops, such as those in cucurbit
family, which is a prerequisite for successful operation of participatory plant breeding program.
After learning plant’s reproduction processes, farmers will be able to apply their knowledge by
crossing a number of self-selected cross-pollinated varieties, and study different methods and tools,
which influence success of hybridization.
How long will this exercise take?
• Fifteen to thirty minutes daily (1 st week) and weekly (succeeding weeks) for field walks,
observations, hands-on, and interaction with farmers; and
• Fifteen to thirty minutes weekly brainstorming session in processing area.
learning objectives
• To create awareness and understanding among participants about the crops’ biological processes
and how hybridization of cross-pollinated vegetables (e.g., cucurbits) can be accomplished in
their own farms; and
• To learn from other farmers and do hands-on using innovative experiences in hybridization of
cross-pollinated vegetables (e.g., cucurbits).
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