The relationship between flower age and seed production in Hatiora gaertneri and Schlumbergera truncata (Cactaceae)

Abstract

Flowers of two cacti [Hatiora gaertneri (Regel) Barthlott 'Crimson Giant' and Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran 'Eva'] were pollinated at different times between anthesis and senescence to determine the effect of floral age on seed production. Studies were conducted in a growth chamber (20 ± 0.5°C) to minimize temperature effects. Mean flower longevity (time from anthesis to first signs of senescence) was 4.7 days for S. truncata and 10.5 days for H. gaertneri. Stigmas of both species were receptive to pollination on the day of anthesis. The maximum number of viable seeds per pollinated flower was obtained when flowers of S. truncata and H. gaertneri were pollinated (respectively) on the second and fourth days after anthesis. For both species, the relationship between floral age and number of viable seeds per pollinated flower was described by a second-degree polynomial. The rate of pollen tube growth in the style was about 1.7 mm·h-1 for S. truncata and about 0.9 mm·h-1 for H. gaertneri. Some senesced flowers of H. gaertneri were capable of setting fruit with viable seed. Flowers of S. truncata did not set fruit when pollinated during the late phase of flower opening or after they had senesced. Senesced flowers of S. truncata failed to set fruit due to an insufficient number of pollen tubes reaching the ovary.