Biología reproductiva de Convolvulus chilensis (Convolvulaceae) en una población de Aucó (centro-norte de Chile)

Abstract

The perennial herb Convolvulus chilensis is the only endemic species of the Convolvulaceae in Chile. The breeding system, phenology, morphology and floral longevity of C. chilensis were studied in a natural population located at Aucó, Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas, IV Región, Chile. A controlled pollination experiment was carried out considering the following treatments: natural pollination, cross-pollination, manual self-pollination, automatic self-pollination and apomixis, evaluating their effect on fruit formation and seed number per fruit. In addition, we evaluated the following traits of the progeny according to pollination type (selfing or outcrossing): seed weight, germination and seedling height and number of leaves after eight weeks of germination under green house conditions. We found Convolvulus chilensis is self-compatible, partially autogamous (capable of selfing without a pollinator agent) and partially apomictic (capable of producing seeds without male gamet). The floral longevity was estimated in 5.25 h During this period, the pollen on the stamens is available only during 1.5 h. The blooming period lasted for 22 weeks (August to January). The apomixis treatment showed a lower fruit set and seed number per flower than natural, cross and self-pollination treatments, which did not show any difference between them in both traits. Pollination type (selfing or outcrossing) did not affect progeny performance in terms of the evaluated seed and seedling traits.