Rubus glaucus Benth.: morphology and floral biology aimed at plant breeding processes

Abstract

Rubus glaucus is widely distributed throughout the three mountain ranges of Colombia, where the blackberry growers have highlighted the need to standardize the supply of planting material, starting with plant breeding schemes that lead to more productive varieties with morphological characteristics that ease agricultural activities. Plant breeding activities have improved by considering the pollination mechanisms of plants. The implementation of controlled sexual hybridization depends on these pollination mechanisms, and several plant breeding methods have been adapted to crop pollination patterns. Morphological characteristics and studies on the floral biology of R. glaucus Benth were conducted to improve plant breeding processes. In addition, a study on pollen viability and stigma receptivity were performed. The reported morphological characteristics of R. glaucus enabled characterization of its flowers as complete and perfect with a regular, actinomorphic, perianth heterochlamydeous, dialipetalous, and dialisepalous structure. Meanwhile, the evaluation of different collection times for pollen viability revealed significant differences. The highest pollen viability occurred at 10:00 am, followed by 9:00 am. Qualitative evaluation of stigma receptivity led to the conclusion that the highest stigma receptivity is at anthesis at 12:00 m.