Pattern of Flower and Fruit Production in Stryphnodendron adstringens, an Andromonoecious Legume Tree of Central Brazil

Abstract

Patterns of flower and fruit production in racemes of Stryphnodendron adstringens, an andromonoecious Brazilian savanna tree species, were studied in two natural areas near Uberlândia-MG. Racemes were divided in three parts: apex, centre, and base. Number of flowers, gender, and nectar and pollen production were analyzed for each section. Frequency of visitors to each part of the inflorescence was also quantified. Hand self- and cross-pollinations were performed in complete racemes and fruit set used to determine breeding system. The racemes produced a mean of 329 flowers, more densely packed in the central portion. Hermaphrodite and male flowers occur along the inflorescence but hermaphrodite flowers are more common in the centre. Fruit set was markedly low but does not seem to be limited by pollination service, since free open-pollinated racemes and hand cross-pollinated ones do not differ in fruit production rates. Fruits resulted mostly from cross-pollinated flowers and fruit production was biased to the central portion of the raceme. Nectar yield was higher in the central portion of the raceme and visitors arrived more commonly on this portion of the inflorescence. However, most flowers did not produce nectar. The pattern of fruit production seems to be a consequence of the hermaphrodite flower distribution in the raceme and it is not constrained by pollen flow or flower opening sequence.

Mimosoideae - andromonoecy - flowering pattern - fruiting pattern - savanna.

References

• 1 Anderson G. J.. Dioecious Solanum of hermaphroditic origin is an example of a broad convergence.  Nature. (1979);  282 836-838
• 2 Anderson G. J., Symon D. E.. Functional dioecy and andromonoecy in Solanum. .  Evolution. (1989);  43 204-219
• 3 Arista M., Ortiz P. L., Talavera S.. Apical pattern of fruit production in racemes of Ceratonia siliqua (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae): role of pollinators.  American Journal of Botany. (1999);  86 1708-1716
• 4 Arroyo M. T. K.. Breeding systems and pollination biology in Leguminosae. Polhill, R. M. and Raven, P. H., eds. Advances in Legume Systematics. Richmond; Royal Botanic Garden of Kew (1981): 723-769
• 5 Bawa K. S., Webb C. J.. Flower, fruit and seed abortion in tropical forest trees: implication for the evolution of paternal and maternal reproductive patterns.  American Journal of Botany. (1984);  71 736-751
• 6 Bawa K. S., Buckley D. P.. Seed:ovule ratio, selective seed abortion, and mating system in Leguminoseae. Stirton, C. H. and Zarruchi, J. L., eds. Advances in Legume Biology. St. Louis; Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden (1989): 243-262
• 7 Bentham G.. Leguminosae. Martius, C. F. P., ed. Flora Brasiliensis, Vol. 15 (2). Leipzig; Musei C. R. Pal. Vindobonensis (1870 - 1876): 1-504
• 8 Bernhardt P., Kenrick J., Knox R. B.. Pollination biology and the breeding system of Acacia retinodes (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae).  Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. (1984);  71 17-29
• 9 Berry P. E., Calvo R. N.. Pollinator limitation and position dependent fruit set in the high Andean orchid Myrosmodes cochleare (Orchidaceae).  Plant Systematics and Evolution. (1991);  174 93-101
• 10 Bierzychudek P.. Pollinator limitation of plant reproductive effort.  The American Naturalist. (1981);  117 838-840
• 11 Cocucci A. A., Galetto L., Sersic A.. El sindrome floral de Caesalpinia gilliessii (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae).  Darwiniana. (1992);  31 111-135
• 12 Del-Claro K., Berto V., Reu W. F.. Herbivore deterrence by visiting ants increases fruit set in an extrafloral nectary plant, Qualea multiflora in cerrado vegetation.  Journal of Tropical Ecology. (1996);  12 887-892
• 13 Diggle P. K.. Architectural effects and the interpretation of patterns of fruit and seed development.  Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. (1995);  26 531-552
• 14 Dulberger R., Levy A., Palevitch D.. Andromonoecy in Solanum marginatum. .  Botanical Gazette. (1981);  142 259-266
• 15 Ehrlén J.. Why do plants produce surplus flowers? A reserve ovary model.  The American Naturalist. (1991);  138 918-933
• 16 Ehrlén J.. Proximate limits to seed production in a herbaceous perennial legume, Lathyrus vernus. .  Ecology. (1992);  73 1820-1831
• 17 Ehrlén J.. Ultimate functions of non-fruiting flowers in Lathyrus vernus. .  Oikos. (1993);  68 45-52
• 18 Felfili J. M., Silva-Jr M. C. J., Dias B. J., Rezende A. V.. Estudo fenológico de Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville no cerrado sensu stricto da Fazenda Água Limpa no Distrito Federal, Brasil.  Revista Brasileira de Botânica. (1999);  22 83-90
• 19 Fenster C. B.. Gene flow in Chamaecrista fasciculata (Leguminosae) I. Gene dispersal.  Evolution. (1991);  45 398-409
• 20 Gibbs P. E., Leitão-Filho H. F., Shepherd G.. Floristic composition and community structure in an area of cerrado in SE Brazil.  Flora. (1983);  173 433-449
• 21 Gibbs P. E., Lewis G. P., Nic-Lughadha E.. Fruit- set induced changes in the sex of flowers in Caesalpinia calycinia (Leguminosae).  Plant Biology. (1999);  1 665-669
• 22 Goodland R.. A physiognomic analysis of the “cerrado” vegetation of central Brazil.  Journal of Ecology. (1971);  59 411-419
• 23 Guitian J.. Why Prunus mahaleb (Rosaceae) produce more flowers than fruits.  American Journal of Botany. (1993);  80 1305-1309
• 24 Guitian J.. Selective fruit abortion in Prunus mahaleb (Rosaceae).  American Journal of Botany. (1994);  81 1555-1558
• 25 Guitian J., Guitian P., Navarro L.. Fruit set, fruit reduction, and fruiting strategy in Cornus sanguinea (Cornaceae).  American Journal of Botany. (1996);  83 744-748
• 26 Guitian P.. Reproductive biology of Rhamnus legionensis Rothm., a dioecious species endemic to the Northwest Iberian peninsula.  Flora. (1995);  190 345-352
• 27 Heinrich B.. The role of energetics in bumblebee-flower interrelation-ships. Gilbert, L. E. and Raven, P. H., eds. Coevolution of Animals and Plants. Austin; University of Texas Press (1975): 141-158
• 28 Heinrich B.. The energetics of pollination.  Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. (1981);  68 370-378
• 29 Janzen D. H.. Physiological ecology of fruits and their seeds. Lange, O. L., Nobel, P. S., Osmond, C. B., and Ziegler, H., eds. Physiological Plant Ecology. III. Responses to the Chemical and Biological Environment. Berlin; Springer-Verlag (1983): 626-655
• 30 Lee T. D.. Patterns of fruit maturation: a gametophyte competition hypothesis.  The American Naturalist. (1984);  123 427-432
• 31 Lee T. D.. Patterns of fruit and seed production. Lovett-Doust, J. and Lovett-Doust, L., eds. Plant Reproductive Ecology. New York; Oxford University Press (1988): 179-202
• 32 Lee T. D.. Patterns of fruit and seed production in a Vermont population of Cassia nictitans L. (Caesalpiniaceae).  Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. (1989);  116 15-21
• 33 Lewis G., Elias T. S.. Mimoseae Brown (1822). Polhill, R. M. and Raven, P. H., eds. Advances in Legume Systematics I. Richmond; Royal Botanical Garden of Kew (1981): 155-171
• 34 Lewis G., Gibbs P. E.. Reproductive biology of Caesalpinia calycina and C. pluviosa (Leguminosae) of the caatinga of Northeastern Brazil.  Plant Systematics and Evolution. (1999);  217 43-53
• 35 Oliveira P. E., Sazima M.. Pollination biology of two species of Kielmeyera (Guttiferae) from Brazilian cerrado vegetation.  Plant Systematics and Evolution. (1990);  172 35-49
• 36 Oliveira P. E., Gibbs P. E.. Reproductive biology of woody plants in a cerrado community of Central Brazil.  Flora. (2000);  195 311-329
• 37 Ortiz P. L., Arista M., Talavera S.. Distance-independent fruit-set pattern in a dioecious population of Ceratonia siliqua (Caesalpiniaceae).  Flora. (1999);  194 277-280
• 38 Rosa R., Lima S. C., Assunção W. L.. Abordagem preliminar das condições climáticas de Uberlândia (MG).  Sociedade e Natureza. (1991);  3 91-108
• 39 Schiavini I., Araújo G. M.. Considerações sobre a vegetação da Reserva Ecológica do Panga (Uberlândia).  Sociedade e Natureza. (1989);  1 61-66
• 40 Sokal R. R., Rohlf F. J.. Biometria. Madrid; Blume (1979)
• 41 Solomon B. P.. Sexual allocation and andromonoecy: resource investment in male and hermaphrodite flowers of Solanum carolinense (Solanaceae).  American Journal of Botany. (1986);  73 1215-1221
• 42 Stephenson A. G.. Flower and fruit abortion: proximate causes and ultimate functions.  Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. (1981);  12 253-279
• 43 Stephenson A. G.. The regulation of maternal investment in an indeterminate flowering plant (Lotus corniculatus). .  Ecology. (1984);  65 113-121
• 44 Sutherland S.. Patterns of fruit-set: what controls fruit:flower ratios in plants.  Evolution. (1986);  40 117-128
• 45 Sutherland S., Delph L. F.. On the importance of male fitness in plants: Patterns of fruit-set.  Ecology. (1984);  65 1093-1104
• 46 Thomson J. D.. Deployment of ovules and pollen among flowers within inflorescences.  Evolutionary Trends in Plants. (1989);  3 65-68
• 47 Tucker S. C.. Floral initiation and development in legumes. Stirton, C. H., ed. Advances in Legume Systematics III. Richmond; Royal Botanic Garden of Kew (1987): 183-239
• 48 Tucker S. C.. Heteromorphic flower development in Neptunia pubescens, a mimosoid legume.  American Journal of Botany. (1988 a);  75 205-224
• 49 Tucker S. C.. Dioecy in Bauhinia resulting from organ suppression.  American Journal of Botany. (1988 b);  75 1584-1597
• 50 Tucker S. C.. The developmental basis for sexual expression in Ceratonia siliqua (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae: Cassieae).  American Journal of Botany. (1992);  79 318-327
• 51 Van Stevenick R. F. M.. Factors affecting the abscission of reproductive organs in yellow lupins (Lupinus luteus L.). I. The effect of different patterns of flower removal.  Journal of Experimental Botany. (1957);  8 373-381
• 52 Wiens D.. Ovule survivorship, brood size, life history, breeding systems, and reproductive success in plants.  Oecologia. (1984);  64 47-53
• 53 Wiens D., Calvin C. L., Wilson C. A., Davern C. I., Frank D., Seavey S. R.. Reproductive success, spontaneous embryo abortion and genetic load in flowering plants.  Oecologia. (1987);  71 501-509
• 54 Willson M. F.. Sexual selection in plants.  Amer. Nat.. (1979);  113 777-790
• 55 Willson M. F., Schemske D. W.. Pollinator limitation, fruit production, and floral display in Paw paw (Asimina triloba). .  Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. (1980);  107 401-408
• 56 Wyatt R.. The reproductive biology of Asclepias tuberosa II. Factors determining fruit-set.  New Phytologist. (1981);  88 375-385
• 57 Wyatt R.. Inflorescence architecture: how flower number, arrangement, and phenology affect pollination and fruit-set.  American Journal of Botany. (1982);  69 585-594

Section Editor: H. Rennenberg