Nolana balsamiflua (Gaudich.) Mesa (Solanaceae), un arbusto vulnerable del desierto de Atacama dependiente de polinizadores para producir semillas.

Abstract

Pollinator-dependency for reproduction is of great importance for plants. We evaluated the breeding system of Nolana balsamiflua, a threatened endemic shrub of the Atacama Desert, performing four pollination trials. No flower produced seeds by agamospermy, autogamy and geitonogamy. However, xenogamy accounted for 51.4% of fruiting, indicating its full dependency on exogenous pollen and pollinators for reproduction.