scholarly journals Flower visitors of Streptocarpus teitensis: implications for conservation of a critically endangered African violet species in Kenya

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10473
Author(s):  
Mark Otieno ◽  
Neelendra Joshi ◽  
Benjamin Rutschmann
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Flower Visitors ◽  
Critically Endangered Species ◽  
African Violet ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
Published Evidence

Background The African violets are endangered plant species restricted mainly to the Eastern Arc Mountains biodiversity hotspots in Kenya and Tanzania. These plants grow well in shaded environments with high humidity. Given their restricted geographical range and published evidence of dependance on insect vectors to facilitate sexual reproduction, understanding their pollination biology is vital for their survival. Methods We conducted an empirical study using flower visitor observations, pan trapping and bagging experiments to establish the role of flower visitors in the fruit set of a locally endemic and critically endangered species of African violet in Taita Hills, Kenya, Streptocarpus teitensis. Results The study found that fruit set is increased by 47.8% in S. teitensis when flowers are visited by insects. However, it is important to note the presence of putative autogamy suggesting S. teitensis could have a mixed breeding system involving self-pollination and cross-pollination since bagged flowers produced 26.9% fruit set. Conclusions Insects appear to be essential flower visitors necessary for increased fruit set in S. teitensis. However, there is evidence of a mixed breeding system involving putative self-pollination and cross-pollination suggesting that S. teitensis is somewhat shielded from the negative effects of pollinator losses. Consequently, S. teitensis appears to be protected to a degree from the risks such as reproduction failure associated with pollinator losses by the presence of a safety net in putative self-pollination.

Breeding System and Tests for Pollen-Limitation in Two Species of Banksia

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Goldingay ◽  
RJ Whelan
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Floral Display ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination

Three factors that potentially influence fruit set (breeding system, inadequate cross-pollination and variable floral display) were examined for two species of Banksia. Firstly, self-pollination and autogamy treatments failed to produce any fruit in B. spinulosa and produced very few fruit in B. paludosa. This suggests that cross pollen is required to produce the level of fruit set observed in the field. Secondly, when plants were given abundant cross pollen, fruit set was not altered in B. spinulosa but was in B. paludosa. Although the number of follicles per inflorescence was was not different for open- pollinated (control) and manipulated B. paludosa inflorescences, the latter produced twice the proportion of inflorescences with follicles produced by control plants and twice the total number of follicles per plant. Thirdly, larger floral display in open-pollinated B. spinulosa plants was associated with a greater production of fruit. However, larger floral display was not associated with a greater reproductive output in B. paludosa, and we suggest that recurrent pollen-limitation in this species may be responsible for this result.

scholarly journals Pollination biology and reproduction of Seemannia sylvatica (Kunth) Hanstein (Gesneriaceae) in the Serra da Bodoquena National Park, Mato Grosso do Sul

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Camargo ◽  
Licléia da Cruz Rodrigues ◽  
Andréa Cardoso Araujo
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Nectar Production ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Nectar Volume ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
Different Ages

In Brazil, the family Gesneriaceae is represented by 23 genera and approximately 200 species. Seemannia sylvatica is an herb that occurs in dense populations in the riverbeds at Serra da Bodoquena. Goals of this study were to report the floral biology (on the first five days of anthesis), as well as to determine the breeding system and the pollinators of S. sylvatica. Data collection was conducted from June 2005 to July 2006 through monthly field trips, lasting for five days. Data on floral biology, breeding system and on the floral visitors were taken from individuals located along a track 2500 m long, in riparian forest of Salobrinha river. Flowers of S. sylvatica are tubular, red, with no perceptive odor and lasted more than five days (ca. 10 - 20 days in individuals transferred to an urban garden and kept in vases). Seemania sylvatica is protandrous, and the male phase occurred between the first and the fourth days of anthesis, while the female one started in the fifth day. Mean nectar volume secreted was 4.77 ± 3.2 µl, with a significative variation among flowers of different ages. Otherwise, nectar concentration average was 9.71 ± 4.41%, and did not varied significantly in flowers of different ages. The flowers of S. sylvatica were pollinated mainly by the hummingbirds Phaethornis pretrei and Thalurania furcata, and pierced by the bee Ceratina chloris. The butterfly Parides anchises orbygnianus was considered an occasional pollinator of these flowers. Seemannia sylvatica is self-compatible, since fruit set occurred on the experiments of spontaneous self-pollination, manual self-pollination, cross-pollination and open pollination (control). The protandry, coupled with the pattern of nectar production, characterized by low volume and solute concentration, which induces the pollinators to visit different flowers in a given circuit foraging, act maximizing the likelihood of cross-pollination in S. sylvatica. Moreover, the high proportion of fruit set by autogamy is an important strategy considering that S. sylvatica is visited by few species, being pollinated mainly by P. pretrei. Therefore, in the absence of these visitors, the formation of fruits may be achieved.

scholarly journals Time of flowering and fertilisation of quince varieties

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Szabó ◽  
J. Nyéki ◽  
M. Soltész ◽  
Z. Szabó ◽  
T. Tóth
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Late Flowering ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Contradictory Data

Literature dealing with flowering and fertilisation of quince is scarce. Most controversial and scanty are informations on observations of self- and cross-pollination. According to our observations, differences in blooming time are few (2-3) days only, thus flowering of most varieties is synchronous. The varieties observed are grouped as early, intermediate and late flowering ones. Self fertility of the individual varieties, however, was not assessed unequivocally, therefore it is recommended, by safety reasons, to consider quince actually as a whole to be auto-incompatible. Artificial self-pollination (or rather geitonogamy) as well as cross pollination with other varieties increased substantially fruit set if compared with the results of natural self-pollination (autogamy). According to the fruit set of their open pollinated flowers, varieties have been classified according to fertility as low (below 10 %), medium (between 10 and 20 %) and high (more than 20 %). Cross fertility of varieties is highly variable depending on combination and on season. Contradictory data are probably due to the sensitivity of quince to conditions of search. Better fruit set was coincident with higher number of stout seeds per fruit. Well developed seeds are definitely a prerequisite of larger fruit size.  

scholarly journals Preliminary evaluation of pollen quality, fertility relations and fruit set of selected sour cherry cultivars in polish conditions

2012 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Szpadzik ◽  
Ewa Jadczuk-Tobjasz ◽  
Barbara Łotocka
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Sour Cherry ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Pollen Quality ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination

Preliminary experiments were carried out in spring 2006. The percentage of fruit set of 'Schattenmorelle IR-2', 'Koral', 'Debreceni Bötermö', 'újfefértói Fürtos' and 'Karneol' was higher after open pollination compared with self-pollination. The cultivar Vowi had an inconsiderably higher percentage of fruit set after self-pollination compared with open pollination. The percentage of fruit set in 'Debreceni Bötermö' and 'újfehértói Fürtos' was about 25 % higher after pollination by 'Schattenmorelle IR-2' and 'Koral' compared with the percentage of fruit set after cross - pollination of both cultivars with each other. In general, they did not appear to be good pollinators with each other. The highest quality of pollen was observed for the following cultivars: 'Schattenmorelle IR-2', 'Koral' and Vowi and the lowest result was obtained in 'újfehértói Fürtos'. The highest yield was given by the following cultivars: Vowi, Schattenmorelle IR-2 and Koral.

scholarly journals Reproductive Success after Self-pollination and Cross-pollination of Olive Cultivars in Croatia

HortScience ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Vuletin Selak ◽  
Slavko Perica ◽  
Smiljana Goreta Ban ◽  
Mira Radunic ◽  
Milan Poljak
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Behavior ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
Flowering Period ◽  
Self Incompatibility ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
Cross Compatibility ◽  
Olive Cultivars ◽  
Simultaneous Flowering

Olive orchard productivity largely depends on the choice of planted cultivars and their pollination needs. Orchard designs in Croatia are changing because a number of valuable foreign olive cultivars, mostly Italian, have been introduced in this region in the last 30 years. The compatibility relationships of introduced cultivars with autochthonous cultivars are unknown. With the objective of studying reproductive behavior of the most important Croatian cultivars (Drobnica, Lastovka, Levantinka, and Oblica) and their cross-pollination to recently introduced Italian cultivars Leccino and Pendolino, initial and final fruit set in self-pollination versus cross-pollination and free pollination were compared during three flowering seasons. Experiments were conducted in three different orchards (Kastela, Mravince, and Brac) to identify the effect of the environment on reproductive behavior of olive cultivars. The differences of fruit set in five olive cultivars after tested pollination treatments appeared at the time of initial fruit set. Increased final fruit set under cross-pollinations was observed when compared with self-pollination for all olive cultivars in all experimental orchards. In the Mravince orchard, a positive response to cross-pollination was consistent, and fruit set increased under cross-pollination in all cultivars and years with the exception of ‘Levantinka’ in which no significant differences were noticed between self-pollination treatment and cross-pollination treatments in 2005. Variable self-fertility behavior from season to season was found for tested cultivars. A self-incompatibility index (ISI) higher than 0.1 was recorded for ‘Levantinka’ in all experimental years and, therefore, classified it as a partially self-incompatible cultivar. Self-incompatibility response was observed for ‘Lastovka’. The positive response to cross-pollination over self-pollination only in some experimental years classified ‘Drobnica’, ‘Leccino’, and ‘Oblica’ as partially self-incompatible. Results obtained from this study indicated that pollination efficiency is strictly combination-specific. The Italian cultivar, Leccino, was a successful pollen acceptor and pollenizer of most Croatian cultivars. Reciprocal high success in cross-pollination was recorded for ‘Levantinka’ and ‘Oblica’. In the Mravince orchard, ‘Lastovka’, ‘Leccino’, and ‘Oblica’ were efficient pollenizers of ‘Levantinka’ where the simultaneous flowering period was in accordance with their cross-compatibility. ‘Levantinka’ was a good pollenizer for ‘Lastovka’ in the Mravince orchard, and both cultivars entered into the flowering period earlier than other studied cultivars, which was not the case in the other two orchards. The variations in flowering timing among orchards were a consequence of differences in environmental conditions. According to the high fruit sets recorded in ‘Oblica’ after pollination with ‘Leccino’ or ‘Levantinka’, an increase in tree productivity of the acceptor cultivar is expected in the presence of selected pollenizers in all olive-growing regions.

Breeding System and Pollination Levels of Banksia ericifolia

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Goldingay ◽  
SM Schibeci ◽  
BA Walker
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Pollen Tubes ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
The Self ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Flower Number ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
Full Complement ◽  
Banksia Ericifolia

Experiments were carefully designed to determine the breeding system of Banksia ericifolia L.f. An equivalent percentage of flowers (78%) contained pollen tubes following self-pollination and open-pollination while a significantly smaller percentage of flowers in an autogamy treatment (44%) and cross-pollination treatment (55%) contained pollen tubes. Significantly more of the inflorescences in the open-pollination (60%) and cross-pollination (33%) treatments produced fruit compared with those in the self-pollination (11%) and autogamy treatments (13%). We suggest that B. ericifolia is largely self-incompatible because fruit production did not reflect pollen tube abundances. The influence of pollination levels on fruit production was determined by reducing the number of flowers on an inflorescence to 100 (i.e. 10% of original) or fewer and hand-pollinating these with cross pollen. There was no difference in fruit production between inflorescences with reduced flower number and open-pollinated inflorescences which had their full complement of flowers. Thus, the ability of an inflorescence to produce fruit appears more likely to be determined by the type of pollen received (cross versus self) rather than by the number of pollinated flowers it contains.

scholarly journals Pengaruh Teknik Penyerbukan Terhadap Pembentukan Buah Naga (Hylocereus polyrizhus) [The Effect of Pollination Technique to Fruit Development of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrizhus)]

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Ni Luh Putu Indriyani ◽  
NFN Hardiyanto
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
The Other ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Tropical Fruit ◽  
Flower Pollination ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
Dragon Fruit ◽  
Pollination Control ◽  
Fruit Plants

<p>Bunga tanaman buah naga berukuran besar dan merupakan bunga hermaprodit yang mekar pada malam hari. Penyerbukan silang pada buah naga dapat terjadi dengan bantuan angin, serangga polinator maupun manusia. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh teknik penyerbukan bunga betina terhadap pembuahan buah naga (Hylocereus polyrizhus). Penelitian dilakukan di Kebun Percobaan Aripan, Balai Penelitian Tanaman Tropika pada bulan Agustus sampai September 2014. Perlakuan terdiri atas: (A) penyerbukan secara alami (kontrol), (B) penyerbukan sendiri melalui isolasi bunga dengan kantong kertas minyak, (C) penyerbukan dengan mengisolasi bunga menggunakan kantong kertas minyak saat mekar pada malam hari dibantu dengan memberikan serbuk sari dari bunganya sendiri dan diisolasi kembali, dan (D) penyerbukan bunga yang didahului dengan kastrasi dan isolasi menggunakan kantong kertas minyak serta polinasi pada malam hari dan selanjutnya bunga diisolasi kembali. Setiap perlakuan terdiri atas 37 bunga tanaman buah naga. Analisis data dilakukan menggunakan uji t berpasangan pada taraf 0,05. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa teknik penyerbukan yang berbeda pada tanaman buah naga menghasilkan kelas buah yang berbeda. Persentase buah dengan kelas super tertinggi diperoleh pada penyerbukan secara alami (kontrol), meskipun persentase jadi buah paling kecil. Implikasi dari hasil penelitian ini adalah bahwa penyerbukan pada buah naga sebaiknya dilakukan secara alami tanpa menggunakan bantuan manusia.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong></p><p>Buah naga; Penyerbukan; Pembuahan; <em>Self compatible</em></p><p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>The flower size of dragon fruit plants is large and a hermaphroditic nocturnal flowers. Cross pollination of the dragon fruit plants occurs because of the wind, pollinator, and humans. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of pollination technique on  fertilization of dragon fruit flowers (Hylocereus polyrizhus). This research was conducted at Aripan Experimental Field, Indonesian Tropical Fruit Research Institute (ITFRI) from August to September 2014. The treatments consisted of: (A) natural open pollination (control), (B) the flowers were isolated with paper bags and allowed to self pollination, (C) the flowers were isolated with paper bag and hand self pollinated when flowers were blooming in the evening. Furthermore all pollinated flowers were isolated with paper bag again (hand self pollination), and (D) the flowers were castrated and emasculated then they were isolated with paper bag. Cross pollination was done with pollen from the other plants. The all pollinated flowers were isolated with paper bag again (hand cross pollination). Each treatment consisted of 37 flowers of dragon fruit plants. Data were analyzed by using paired  t test 0.05. The results showed that different of pollination techniques on dragon fruit plants were produced of different fruit grade. Percentage of superior grade on natural open pollination  higher than the other treatment, even though the open pollination had smallest of percentage of  fruit set. The implication of this research is that the dragon fruit flower pollination may be done naturally without human assistance.</p>

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