RESUMO

The Dwarf Palm, Butia lallemantii Deble & Marchiori, is an endangered species endemic to the Pampa biome and typically grows in sandy and rocky soils. Given its economic, ecological, and cultural relevance, it is crucial to understand the ecology and biology of this species to encourage its preservation and highlight its significance for the Pampa. This study aims to investigate whether this palm relies on animal vectors for pollination, analyze its breeding system, and propose strategies for its conservation and sustainable use. We conducted field observations on pollination ecology, identified floral visitors, and designed six breeding system experiments to test cross-compatibility, self-compatibility, and apomixis. Additionally, we conducted a literature review to propose conservation strategies. Butia lallemantii is pollinator-dependent and self-compatible. The flowers are mostly melittophilous and offer pollen and nectar for floral visitors. The main pollinators are native Meliponinae and Halictinae bees and the introduced Apis mellifera. This study represents the first comprehensive and complete examination of the breeding system and pollination process on Butia palms. This palm can provide materials for industries, but urgent actions are needed to preserve the remaining populations through effective policies and strategies. Furthermore, this palm should be integrated into diversified agroecosystems to evaluate its adaptability to cultivation.

RESUMO

Mating system transitions from self-incompatibility (SI) to self-compatibility (SC) are common in plants. In the absence of high levels of inbreeding depression, SC alleles are predicted to spread due to transmission advantage and reproductive assurance. We characterized mating system and pistil-expressed SI factors in 20 populations of the wild tomato species Solanum habrochaites from the southern half of the species range. We found that a single SI to SC transition is fixed in populations south of the Rio Chillon valley in central Peru. In these populations, SC correlated with the presence of the hab-6 S-haplotype that encodes a low activity S-RNase protein. We identified a single population segregating for SI/SC and hab-6. Intrapopulation crosses showed that hab-6 typically acts in the expected codominant fashion to confer SC. However, we found one specific S-haplotype (hab-10) that consistently rejects pollen of the hab-6 haplotype, and results in SI hab-6/hab-10 heterozygotes. We suggest that the hab-10 haplotype could act as a genetic mechanism to stabilize mixed mating in this population by presenting a disadvantage for the hab-6 haplotype. This barrier may represent a mechanism allowing for the persistence of SI when an SC haplotype appears in or invades a population.

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RESUMO

This study tested the hypothesis that self-compatibility would be associated with floral traits that facilitate autonomous self-pollination to ensure reproduction under low pollinator visitation. In a comparison of two pairs of Ipomoea species with contrasting breeding systems, we predicted that self-compatible (SC) species would have smaller, less variable flowers, reduced herkogamy, lower pollinator visitation and higher reproductive success than their self-incompatible (SI) congeners. We studied sympatric species pairs, I. hederacea (SC)- I. mitchellae (SI) and I. purpurea (SC)-I. indica (SI), in Mexico, over two years. We quantified variation in floral traits and nectar production, documented pollinator visitation, and determined natural fruit and seed set. Hand-pollination and bagging experiments were conducted to determine potential for autonomous self-pollination and apomixis. Self-compatible Ipomoea species had smaller flowers and lower nectar production than SI species; however, floral variation and integration did not vary according to breeding system. Bees were primary pollinators of all species, but visitation rates were seven times lower in SC than SI species. SC species had a high capacity for autonomous self-pollination due to reduced herkogamy at the highest anther levels. Self-compatible species had two to six times higher fruit set than SI species. Results generally support the hypothesis that self-compatibility and autonomous self-pollination ensure reproduction under low pollinator visitation. However, high variation in morphological traits of SC Ipomoea species suggests they maintain variation through outcrossing. Furthermore, reduced herkogamy was associated with high potential for autonomous self-pollination, providing a reproductive advantage that possibly underlies transitions to self-compatibility in Ipomoea.

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Legitimate flowers visitors pollinate the flower during the visit and thus influence the production of fruits and seeds. We tested whether the visitation rate of potential pollinators is associated with the amount of seeds per fruit produced by the self-compatible bromeliad Tillandsia stricta (Bromeliaceae). We determined whether hummingbirds are legitimate visitors by testing for a correlation between visits and pollination (seed production) at the Guapiaçú Ecological Reserve (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçú), state of Rio de Janeiro. We tested 30 flowers, five of which were also monitored to test the possibility of spontaneous self-pollination. The remaining 25 flowers were exposed to floral visitors. Twenty-two flowers formed fruits and seeds, from which three formed seeds without floral visits. The hummingbird Amazilia fimbriata (Gmelin, 1788) was the only legitimate visitor. The average number (± standard deviation) of seeds was 27 units (±15) per fruit. The floral visitation rate by A. fimbriata was 6.6 (±3.4) visits/per flower. The number of floral visits and the amount of seed produced were positively correlated (r² = 0.58, p 0.01). Thus, A. fimbriata is a legitimate floral visitor of T. stricta, and influences seed production per fruit in this bromeliad.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

A perda de habitat causa um declínio nas populações de plantas e animais, afetando suas interações, como a polinização. Em áreas urbanas, a deficiência de polinizadores é a principal causa para redução do sucesso reprodutivo nas plantas. A presença de fragmentos de mata pode auxiliar na conservação de visitantes florais, auxiliando na produção de sementes. Para testar essa hipótese, foram feitos testes reprodutivos e coletas ativas dos visitantes florais em árvores de araçá em área urbana e fragmento de mata. Os visitantes mais abundantes em ambas as áreas foram as abelhas. Os valores de abundância das abelhas não variaram entre si mais que o acaso, porém a diversidade foi maior na área com fragmento. A produção de frutos por autopolinização supera a de polinização natural, devido, provavelmente, ao fato de que muitos dos visitantes florais atuam como pilhadores de pólen, o que diminui a quantidade deste que é disponível para a polinização. Apesar da maior diversidade de visitantes na área de fragmento de mata, da autocompatibilidade e do comportamento de pilhador dos visitantes, esses fatores não influenciam no sucesso reprodutivo da espécie estudada. Palavras-chave: Antropização. Autocompatibilidade. Pilhadores de pólen. Sucesso reprodutivo.

Habitat loss causes a decline in plant and animal populations, negatively affecting plant-pollinator interactions, such as pollination. In urban areas pollinator deficit is the main cause of plants low reproductive success. The presence of forest fragments in urban areas may help to preserve floral visitors, increasing seed production. This hypothesis was tested by conducting reproduction tests of strawberry guava trees in an urban area and at a forest fragment within an urban area and by actively collecting its floral visitors. Bees were the most abundant flower visitors in both areas. Bees abundance was strictly casual, but diversity was higher in areas with fragment. Fruit production by selfing exceeds that of natural pollination probably because many floral visitors act as pollen thieves, decreasing the amount of pollen available for pollination. Despite the greater diversity of visitors in the forest fragment area, self-compatibility, and the robbing behavior of visitors, these factors do not influence the reproductive success of the study species.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Legitimate flowers visitors pollinate the flower during the visit and thus influence the production of fruits and seeds. We tested whether the visitation rate of potential pollinators is associated with the amount of seeds per fruit produced by the self-compatible bromeliad Tillandsia stricta (Bromeliaceae). We determined whether hummingbirds are legitimate visitors by testing for a correlation between visits and pollination (seed production) at the Guapiaçú Ecological Reserve (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçú), state of Rio de Janeiro. We tested 30 flowers, five of which were also monitored to test the possibility of spontaneous self-pollination. The remaining 25 flowers were exposed to floral visitors. Twenty-two flowers formed fruits and seeds, from which three formed seeds without floral visits. The hummingbird Amazilia fimbriata (Gmelin, 1788) was the only legitimate visitor. The average number (± standard deviation) of seeds was 27 units (±15) per fruit. The floral visitation rate by A. fimbriata was 6.6 (±3.4) visits/per flower. The number of floral visits and the amount of seed produced were positively correlated (r² = 0.58, p 0.01). Thus, A. fimbriata is a legitimate floral visitor of T. stricta, and influences seed production per fruit in this bromeliad.

Assuntos

RESUMO

A perda de habitat causa um declínio nas populações de plantas e animais, afetando suas interações, como a polinização. Em áreas urbanas, a deficiência de polinizadores é a principal causa para redução do sucesso reprodutivo nas plantas. A presença de fragmentos de mata pode auxiliar na conservação de visitantes florais, auxiliando na produção de sementes. Para testar essa hipótese, foram feitos testes reprodutivos e coletas ativas dos visitantes florais em árvores de araçá em área urbana e fragmento de mata. Os visitantes mais abundantes em ambas as áreas foram as abelhas. Os valores de abundância das abelhas não variaram entre si mais que o acaso, porém a diversidade foi maior na área com fragmento. A produção de frutos por autopolinização supera a de polinização natural, devido, provavelmente, ao fato de que muitos dos visitantes florais atuam como pilhadores de pólen, o que diminui a quantidade deste que é disponível para a polinização. Apesar da maior diversidade de visitantes na área de fragmento de mata, da autocompatibilidade e do comportamento de pilhador dos visitantes, esses fatores não influenciam no sucesso reprodutivo da espécie estudada. Palavras-chave: Antropização. Autocompatibilidade. Pilhadores de pólen. Sucesso reprodutivo.

Habitat loss causes a decline in plant and animal populations, negatively affecting plant-pollinator interactions, such as pollination. In urban areas pollinator deficit is the main cause of plants low reproductive success. The presence of forest fragments in urban areas may help to preserve floral visitors, increasing seed production. This hypothesis was tested by conducting reproduction tests of strawberry guava trees in an urban area and at a forest fragment within an urban area and by actively collecting its floral visitors. Bees were the most abundant flower visitors in both areas. Bees abundance was strictly casual, but diversity was higher in areas with fragment. Fruit production by selfing exceeds that of natural pollination probably because many floral visitors act as pollen thieves, decreasing the amount of pollen available for pollination. Despite the greater diversity of visitors in the forest fragment area, self-compatibility, and the robbing behavior of visitors, these factors do not influence the reproductive success of the study species. (AU)

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RESUMO

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Dichogamy is a common characteristic among angiosperms, including Piper species. In this genus, the tiny flowers are morphologically similar and have an asynchronous stamen development. However, there is no information on the duration of stigma receptivity and whether it overlaps with pollen release. To better understand mechanisms of floral function in Piper vicosanum, we provide a detailed characterization of the timing of pollen release from the four stamens and the period of stigma receptivity and exposure mode of the receptive areas. METHODS: We investigated plants of a natural population in a semideciduous seasonal forest (Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil), based on chemical tests, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy analyses. KEY RESULTS: Incomplete protogyny-a mechanism that favors outcrossing-was recorded. The period of stigma receptivity was long (14 d), and the sequential exposure and senescence of stigmatic papillae occurred gradually and in a basipetal direction. Pollen release began 2-6 d after the beginning of the pistillate phase, with an average pollen viability of 87.7%, during the bisexual flower phase. Pollen was released for up to 6 d and occurred in one stamen at a time. The fruit set observed in tests of self-pollination indicated self-compatibility. CONCLUSIONS: The gradual and sequential exposure of stigmatic papillae in P. vicosanum flowers is described here as the mechanism for the long duration of receptivity. Anther development and pollen release were also sequential. These findings are yet unreported reproductive characteristics of the genus and offer new perspectives for future studies on the floral biology of other Piper species.

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O conhecimento das interações entre plantas e seus polinizadores tem-se destacado como ferramenta na biologia da conservação de ambientes degradados, como a Mata Atlântica e no estudo da evolução de características morfológicas que medeiam estas interações. Neste estudo são apresentadas informações sobre a biologia reprodutiva e as interações com os visitantes florais de Sophora tomentosa e Crotalaria vitellina (Fabaceae), espécies comuns em áreas de restinga na Mata Atlântica no Núcleo Picinguaba, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Ubatuba - São Paulo. Estas espécies são sincronopátricas, possuem flores amarelas dispostas em racemos e oferecem néctar como principal recurso. Ambas as espécies são autocompatíveis, mas dependem de polinizadores para formação de frutos e sementes. Xylocopa brasilianorum e Megachile sp.1 foram os polinizadores de S. tomentosa, ao passo que C. vitellina, além destas espécies, também foi polinizada por Bombus morio, Centris labrosa e mais duas espécies de Megachile. Estas espécies de abelhas possuem comprimento da língua compatível com as dimensões das câmaras nectaríferas, acessando o néctar por visitas legítimas. As inflorescências de S. tomentosa foram mais visitadas (0,62 visitas/inflorescência/dia) do que as de C. vitellina (0,37 visitas/inflorescência/dia). Entretanto, em condições naturais, a frutificação em S. tomentosa (33 por cento) é semelhante à de C. vitellina (42 por cento), provavelmente devido às diferenças na eficiência de cada polinizador. Espécies de Trigona e de Augochlora não têm acesso ao néctar em visitas legítimas, pois não possuem comprimento da língua compatível com as dimensões das câmaras nectaríferas. Portanto, as dimensões das câmaras nectaríferas de S. tomentosa e C. vitellina funcionam como barreira seletiva às espécies de abelhas com língua curta, assegurando maior oferta de néctar aos polinizadores. Ainda, os polinizadores destas leguminosas são comuns na restinga e atuam como vetores de pólen de diversas espécies neste ecossistema. Portanto a manutenção destas leguminosas é importante para a diversidade da fauna de abelhas e essencial para a comunidade de plantas.

The study of plant-pollinator interactions is a major tool for conservation biology of fragmented habitats like the Atlantic Rain Forest and for the study of evolutionary traits that rule these interactions. Information on reproductive biology and floral visitor interactions of Sophora tomentosa and Crotalaria vitellina (Fabaceae) is presented in this study. Both species are common in the restinga formation of the Atlantic Rain Forest in the Núcleo Picinguaba, Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Ubatuba - São Paulo. These species occur in the same areas, the flowering period is the same for both and they have yellow flowers that offer nectar as the major reward. Both are self-compatible, although fruit and seed set depend on the pollinators. Xylocopa brasilianorum and Megachile sp.1 were pollinators of S. tomentosa, whereas C. vitellina was pollinated by both the aforementioned bees and Bombus morio, Centris labrosa and two separate species of Megachile. All these bees have long tongues and are able to reach nectar at the bottom of the nectar chamber by legitimate visits. The inflorescences of S. tomentosa received more visits (0,62 visits/inflorescence/day) than the inflorescences of C. vitellina (0,37 visits/inflorescence/day). However, the fruit set of S. tomentosa (33 percent) is similar to that of C. vitellina (42 percent) in natural conditions, probably due to different pollinator efficiency. Having shorter tongues, Trigona and Augochlora bees have no access to the nectar chamber by means of legitimate visits. Hence, the dimensions of the nectar chamber of S. tomentosa and C. vitellina act as a selective barrier to short-tongued bees, thus guaranteeing more nectar to the long-tongued visitors. These legume pollinators are very common in the restinga forest, and they act as pollen vectors of other species in this ecosystem as well. The preservation of these legume plants is important to the diversity of bees and essential to the plant community.