Contrasting Pollination Strategies and Breeding Systems in Two Native Useful Cacti from Southern Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Brazil is one of the centers of diversity of Cactaceae, yet studies addressing both pollination biology and the breeding system in Brazilian cacti are scarce. We herein present a detailed analysis of two native species with economic relevance: Cereus hildmannianus and Pereskia aculeata. The first species produce edible, sweet, spineless fruits and the second species produces leaves with high protein content. Pollination studies were undertaken through fieldwork observations in three localities of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, over two flowering seasons, totaling over 130 observation hours. Breeding systems were elucidated utilizing controlled pollinations. Cereus hildmannianus is solely pollinated by nectar-gathering species of Sphingidae hawk moths. In contrast, the flow

SUBMITTER: Becker R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10053946 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature