Patterns of fecundity and abortion in Canavalia ensiformis (L.) D.C.

Padrões de fecundidade e aborto em Canavalia ensiformis (L.) D.C.

Abstract

Studies were conducted on patterns of fruit and seed sets to assess the potential factors causing high fruit and seed abortions in Canavalia ensiformis (L.) D.C., as the available literature is reduced to Papilionoideae species. The analyzes were performed comparing the flower position, in the inflorescence, that fruits with complete development were obtained, in addition to the fruit and seed abortions. The study was conducted in an agricultural crop at UFSCar, from august 2013 to july 2014. The percentage of developed fruits was 9.73% (194 fruits in 1,992 flowers). A total of 148 fruits was developed in the basal position (76.29%), 40 in the median (20.62%) and six in the apical (3.09%). There was a higher abortion of seeds in the basal position (410 developed seeds, 26.99%), in median (532, 35.02%) and apical (577, 37.99%). Since significant differences were found in relation to the position of fruit set, the hypothesis that relates abortion by fruits to the order of floral opening in the inflorescence is the most likely. Regarding fruit abortion, selection according to the cost of fruiting and seed maturation seemed to be the most likely hypothesis. It follows the importance of maternal resources for fruit set is highlighted, due to the fact of the development of more fruits close to the mother-plant, but for the seed set, it was observed that the ovules closest to the stigma have an advantage in capturing maternal resources and successful development.