BREEDING SYSTEM IN CRINODENDRON PATAGUA MOL. (ELAEOCARPACEAE), AN ENDEMIC TREE OF CENTRAL CHILE

Abstract

The breeding system of Crinodendron patagua was determined through four directed pollination trials and a control for natural pollination. An agamospermy test did not result in fruit set, indicating that this species is non-apomictic. In an automatic self-pollination test successful fruit set was 6.9% of compared with 27.7% attained in a hand self-pollination test. A cross-pollination test produced 72.9% fruiting, which did not differ from natural pollination control. Hence, C. patagua must be considered a self-incompatible xenogamous plant, with a self-incompatibility index of 0.12. C. patagua flowers massively in spring, with numerous white flowers visited by Hymenoptera and Diptera, which may carry pollen between flowers.