Abstract
Anemophilous species depend on wind for sexual reproduction. When plants do not receive enough pollen and/or pollen has poor quality, they may experience pollen limitation. This can reduce the production of fruits and seeds with negative consequences on population dynamics. The self-compatibility system also plays an important role on the likelihood of a species suffering pollen limitation as it determines if plants can produce fruits and seeds in the absence of compatible mates. Here, we studied the breeding system of the Andean anemophilous tree Polylepis incarum, a critically endangered species endemic to Lake Titicaca. We conducted controlled experimental pollination experiments and florescence microscopy analysis to assess whether pollen limitation and the incompatibility system constrain fruit and seed production. Results showed that the seed set is limited by pollen availability, that P. incarum exhibits a pre-zygotic compatibility system and early inbreeding depression manifested during seed development. Therefore, self-pollination is a factor that could be partially associated with the production of non-viable seeds.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 257-265 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Neotropical Biodiversity |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by scholarships from the Instituto de Ecología of the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés [Grant 05-16] awarded by the first author. We thank Victor López, Yara Fernández, and Lucia Blanco for field assistance. We also thank Sergio Gutierrez and Volga Iñiguez for the logistic support. This study was funded by a grant awarded to Cecilia Lopez from the Instituto de Ecología and to Jorge Quezada for the project “Germination of Polylepis species for seedling production to reforest green urban areas of La Paz, Bolivia” awarded Universidad Mayor de San Andrés. We also thank to reviewers for their helpful comments.
Funding Information:
We thank Victor López, Yara Fernández, and Lucia Blanco for field assistance. We also thank Sergio Gutierrez and Volga Iñiguez for the logistic support. This study was funded by a grant awarded to Cecilia Lopez from the Instituto de Ecología and to Jorge Quezada for the project “Germination of Polylepis species for seedling production to reforest green urban areas of La Paz, Bolivia” awarded Universidad Mayor de San Andrés. We also thank to reviewers for their helpful comments.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- Andes
- pollen limitation
- prezygotic self-incompatibility
- treeline
- wind pollination