title: Pollination ecology and reproductive biology of Canarium strictum Roxb. from evergreen forests of Central Western Ghats, India.
abstract: Pollination and reproductive biology of a dioecious tree Canarium strictum Roxb. (Burseraceae) was extensively studied within the Agumbe forest range of Western Ghats, Karnataka to identify primary pollen vectors and to enumerate interrelationship with the pollinators. The study also investigated phenology, floral biology, pollen production, pollen viability, stigma receptivity and nectar production. Trees produced functionally unisexual flowers with white petals, organized densely on inflorescences. Staminate flowers produced high percentage of viable pollen and relatively abundant nectar (15.75 μl) as a reward to the pollinators, while pistillate flowers produced only nectar (12 μl). Successful fruit set with wind pollination was facilitated by synchronization of flowering male and female trees, long term receptivity of stigma in female flowers and extended lifespan of flowers. The highest mean percent of fruit set with hand cross-pollination (μ = 91.06) suggests the influence of local male tree density, as well as, frequency and abundance of pollinator community on fruit set by open pollination.
authors.forename: C N Prasanna
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Somashekar
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Nagaraja
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shivaprasad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029403:Burseraceae / Q000502:physiology*; D065928:Forests; D007194:India; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D054817:Pollination