Abstract
The dependence of commercial crops on pollinators is closely related to their reproductive strategies and has direct impacts on production yields. Fruit production of Averrhoa carambola, the star fruit, is highly dependent on bee pollination. This distylous species may exhibit monomorphism associated with self-compatibility, a condition that may influence its degree of dependence on pollinators for fruit set. We evaluated the floral morphology and mating system of A. carambola and their relationships with pollinator dependence in an apparently pin-monomorphic orchard to address the following questions: Is the orchard indeed pin-monomorphic? Is the orchard self-compatible? Are pollination services sufficient to reach maximum productivity? Is fruit set related to the number of visits? We investigated floral morphometrics, mating system, and pollination following standard methods of plant reproduction research. The orchard exhibited pin-monomorphism and self-compatibility. Herkogamy strongly impaired spontaneous self-pollination, emphasizing the relevance of pollinators to crop yield. Considering that Apis mellifera was the only pollinator observed, and that the orchard showed pollen limitation, we recommend the implementation of pollinator management strategies. Additional studies will be needed to assess if the atypical distyly observed here occurs in other situations.
Highlights
The dependence of commercial crops on pollinators is closely related to their reproductive strategies and has direct impacts on production yields
The dependence of plant species on pollination services largely depends on their mating and pollination systems (Klein et al 2007), so that crops with restrictive mating systems, and/or highly specialized pollination mechanisms, tend to be more dependent on pollinators than those whose reproduction is more achieved (Garibaldi et al 2011)
Crop yield mediated by honeybees in a star fruit orchard exhibiting atypical distyly pollinators will be more impacted by their global declines (Potts et al 2010; Lautenbach et al 2012)
Summary
The dependence of commercial crops on pollinators is closely related to their reproductive strategies and has direct impacts on production yields. Crop yield mediated by honeybees in a star fruit orchard exhibiting atypical distyly pollinators will be more impacted by their global declines (Potts et al 2010; Lautenbach et al 2012). Star fruit plants exhibit distyly (Crane 1994), a floral dimorphism in which individuals produce flowers with short styles and long stamens (thrum morphs), or the inverse (pin morphs).
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