Efeito de vespas galhadoras (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) na duração da receptividade floral de Ficus citrifolia (Moraceae) / Galler wasps (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) effect on th length of floral receptivity of Ficus citrifolia (Moraceae)

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The breeding success of Ficus trees and the maintenance of their mutualistic fig wasps depend on the successful pollination of pistilate flowers (seed production) and on the development of pollinating wasps in some galled ovaries (production of pollen vectors). The period during which pistilate flowers are receptive for pollination and oviposition is short compared to the total length of fig development. This narrow temporal window may be limiting to the stability of the mutualism, since the reproductive success of the plant will be null if wasps fail to find receptive trees. We investigated the role of the non-pollinating galler wasps (Idarnes group flavicollis) on the pollination period of Ficus citrifolia figs. Specifically, we tested if galler wasps interfere on (1) fig attraction for pollinating fig wasps, (2) length of stigma receptivity and (3) pollinating success (seed and pollinator offspring production). The study was carried out at the campus of University of São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto (21° 10S, 47° 48W) between february/2008 and march/2009. The periods of stigma receptivity and fig attractiveness lasted about one week and were not affected by the presence of galling non-pollinating fig wasps. However, the early ostiole closure caused by the growth of non-pollinating wasps galls may affect the plant reproductive success in high levels of infestation by these wasps

ASSUNTO(S)

agaonidae polinização idarnes plant-insect interaction interação inseto-planta idarnes agaonidae polination.

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados