Rogalski et al. 2009 (Article) Dyckia, Brazil

Biologia reprodutiva da reófita Dyckia brevifolia Baker (Bromeliaceae) no Rio Itajaí-Açu, Santa Catarina, Brasil

Author(s):—J.M. Rogalski, A. Reis, M.S. Reis & K.V. Hmeljevski

Publication:—Revista Brasileira de Botânica 32(4): 691–702.. (2009)

Abstract:—(Reproductive biology of the rheophyte Dyckia brevifolia Baker (Bromeliaceae)
On the Itajaí-Açu River, Santa Catarina, Brazil). The species Dyckia brevifolia Baker presents disjunctive populations and restricted distribution. Dyckia brevifolia is a policarpic species with clonal propagation. The reproductive biology of this species was studied on the banks of the Itajaí-Açu River, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The floral characteristics, the nectar production and the behavior of floral visitors were studied. To characterize the reproductive system, five treatments were conducted: agamospermy, spontaneous pollination, self-pollination, cross-pollination and control. Each infl orescence presented 60.4 ± 14.5 fl owers and 58.3 ± 13.3 fruits and the fruit/fl ower ratio was 0.97. The average number of seeds per fruit was 129.6 ± 24.3. The flowers opened from the base to the apex of the infl orescence and the number of opened flowers per infl orescence and day was 6.8 ± 1.2. Flower anthesis occurs along the day and the fl ower lasts a day and half. The average volume and concentration of nectar was 30.5 μL and 25.7%, respectively. The main floral visitors were bees, hummingbirds and butterfl ies, being the hummingbird Amazilia versicolor Vieillot the main pollinator. This species also was pollinated by bees of the genera Xylocopa and Bombus. Regarding the reproductive system, the results indicate that D. brevifolia is self-compatible and that agamospermy can occur. The self-compatibility presented for this species, as well as the fl oral visitors’ behavior indicate that the main pollination forms are self-pollination and geitonogamy.

Keywords:—agamospermy, Bromeliaceae, Dyckia brevifolia, pollination, self-compatibility