Fertility of Vriesea gigantea Gaud. (Bromeliaceae) in southern Brazil

• DOI: 10.3732/ajb.94.4.683
• Publication Date: 2008-02-29T22:42:44Z
• Authors: Gecele M. Paggi; Clarisse Palma‐Silva; Lucas C. T. Silveira; Eliane Kaltchuk‐S...; Maria H. Bodanese...; Fernanda Bered
• Keywords: Gigantea; Bromeliaceae; Plant reproduction

Plant fertility is a central subject of many questions in plant evolutionary and conservation biology. Pollen availability, abiotic resources, flowering pattern can limit fruit seed production. Open pollination pollen supplementation studies are used to estimate any limitation natural populations. To study the impact these factors on reproductive success Vriesea gigantea , an epiphytic bromeliad Atlantic Rainforest Brazil, its four populations Itapuã State Park was assessed by considering inflorescence size, flower production, set, set pattern, viability germination rate. Supplemental adult plants determine whether production V. limited reception pollen. The results showed that has high flowers, fruits, seeds. Seeds highly viable all populations, presenting average rate 94% (SE ± 3.5). Plants from fertile. proportion after manual hand indicates species self‐compatible. Pollination treatments evidence pollinator population.