Floral biology and breeding system of garcinia imberti bourd. - a critically endangered tree species of western ghats, kerala, India

Plant flowering and breeding characteristics are important to understand the reproduction of plant populations. Garcinia imberti belongs to the family Clusiaceae is a critically endangered tree species of Agasthyamalai hills and endemic to Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Present study is to investigate the floral biology and breeding system during 2012-13. The tree species is dioecious. The peak of male and female flowering was observed in Feb-May, but the male flowers were observed one week before the female flower. Female flowers are significantly larger than the male flower. Both sexual morphs have four petals and four sepals in imbricated arrangement. Controlled pollination experiment showed that Garcinia imberti was a self-incompatible species that produced fruits through cross-pollination. According to the field observations after pollination treatments fruit setting was observed as 53.33%, 30.00%, and 36.67% in cross pollination, apomixis and open pollination respectively. This indicates a functionally dioecious mating system and pollination limited fruit set in Garcinia imberti. Female flower bear fruits with 1-2 seeds. Floral visitors observed in only in male flowers. These are not pollinators and they never observed on female flowers.