Back to Search Start Over

Ecological factors affecting the fruiting success of a Tibouchina trichopoda (DC.) Baill. (Melastomataceae) flower

Authors :
Fabiano Rodrigo da Maia
Tiago Simões Malucelli
Isabela Galarda Varassin
Source :
Acta Botânica Brasílica, Vol 27, Iss 1, Pp 142-146 (2013)
Publication Year :
2013
Publisher :
Sociedade Botânica do Brasil, 2013.

Abstract

The abundance and distribution of resources for pollinators modulate the reproduction of plants. This study attempted to determine whether and how the fruiting success of Tibouchina trichopoda flowers varies due to plant size, number of flowers produced, distance between individuals and cardinal orientation of the flowers. From July 2009 to February 2010, we conducted monthly evaluations of 21 plants in an area of regenerating forest within the Atlantic Forest biome, located near the municipality of Antonina, in southern Brazil. Floral density was monitored weekly. During the study period, the species bloomed twice: once during the cool, dry season, showing an extended flowering period with scattered flowering individuals; and once during the hot, rainy season, showing a brief flowering period with a high density of flowering individuals. Plant size was not found to influence fruiting success. There was greater production of flowers and fruits during the brief flowering period. The extent of the floral display positively affected the fruiting success of the flowers, the effect being greater when the density of flowers was low and tending to stabilize at higher densities. The northern-facing portions of tree crowns produced more flowers and therefore had greater fruiting success than did the southern-facing portions. However, the proportion of fruits produced per flower was the same.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
01023306 and 1677941X
Volume :
27
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Acta Botânica Brasílica
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.40f191bd8cc346ad83fb896c1c01b4fa
Document Type :
article