Floral biology, reproductive phenology and pollination of Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart. (Annonaceae) in a Cerrado area in Western Bahia state

Abstract

Annonaceae is a common plant family in the Cerrado of Western Bahia state. However, studies on its floral, reproductive and phenological biology, as well as data on its pollinators, are rare in this region. A common species in this area is Xylopia aromatica (Lam.) Mart., whose reproductive aspects are poorly known. This motivated the present work, aimed to study the floral and reproductive biology, phenology and pollinators of this species. The study was carried out in a Cerrado area in the municipality of Barreiras, Bahia State, in the period from October 2015 to September 2017. It included analyses of reproductive phenology, floral biology observations, reproductive system crossings and observations of floral visitors. The flowers of X. aromatica are dichogamous, protogynic. The flowering is synchronous and continuous, allowing the genic flow between the individuals of the species. Among the floral visitors, a Curculionidae was the only one found inside the floral chamber. The protogyny of X. aromatica prevents self-pollination, evidencing the dependence of pollinators to its reproductive success. The highest fruit formation by cross-pollination, coupled with the low geitonogamy rate, suggests a self-incompatible reproductive system for this species.