Abstract Detail

Pollination Biology

Perez, Mervin [1], Ackerman, Elvia [2].

BREEDING SYSTEM AND POLLINATION OF Gesneria pauciflora Urb. (GESNERIACEAE): AN ENDEMIC AND THREATENED SPECIES OF THE CARIBBEAN.

Gesneria pauciflora is a small shrub endemic to serpentine areas in the Maricao State Forest in the island of Puerto Rico. It was declared a threatened species in 1995. The species lacks scientific information on actual vulnerabilities throughout its life cycle. In this study we collected information the breeding system of G. pauciflora to investigate potential vulnerabilities at the pollinators stage. We performed a pollination experiment to test for differences in fruit and seed production among pollination types (self- vs. cross- vs. open pollination; autogamy vs. apomixis). Data was recollected from September 2012 to February 2013. Flowers were nectar-producing, tubular and yellow, and as expected they were visited by hummingbirds. However visits were low (e.g. max. visitation rate= 0.004 flw/obs/day). Flowers were not apomictic and fruits produced via our autogamy test were negligible. Our experiments did not detect significant differences among self-, cross-, and open pollinations in seed production suggesting that G. pauciflora is a self-compatible species. However, fruit set was significant higher through artificial pollinations than through open pollinations (χ²=6.23; p-value= 0.0125). A calculation of a pollen limitation index using seeds set (PL=1-(open/cross)) suggests that reproduction may be partially pollen limited (PL= 0.50). On the other hand, the rate of aborted seeds for artificially pollinated fruits was approximately 28% regardless of treatments, which suggest some degree of resource limitation as well. Unexpectedly, floral herbivory (mostly buds) was also observed (24% of marked buds). Suboptimal seed production may be occurring in this species as a result of limited floral visitation and herbivory.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras Campus, Environmental Science, P.O. Box 70377, San Juan, PR, 00936-8377, USA
2 - ITS UNIV PUERTO RICO, PO BOX 21910, San Juan, PR, 00931, USA

Keywords:
Self-compatible
Pollen limitation
herbivory.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Grand Salon A - D/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PPL003
Abstract ID:240
Candidate for Awards:None