Articles
Pollination biology of Michelia crassipes Y.W. Law
Article number
1185_37
Pages
297 – 304
Language
English
Abstract
Michelia crassipes Y.W. Law, a small evergreen shrub tree in Magnoliaceae, is a great ornamental plant with fragrant and dark purple flowers.
It became a useful cross breeding germplasm resource.
Field observation in Changsha (China) indicated that its flowers started blooming in late March and continued into early May for about 50 days.
Each flower opened for 4-5 days and pistils were ready before stamens.
The highest vitality for accepting pollen was from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon in the 2nd or 3rd day after bloom.
The outcrossing index (OCI) was 4 and pollen/ovule ratio (P/O) was 2,671±123, which indicated that M. crassipes should be classified as an allogamous plant.
Bagged flowers also produced limited seeds, but seed quality (size and weight) were significantly less than that of artificially cross-pollinated flowers.
Both fruit-set (73.6%) and seed-set (80%) of cross-pollinated flowers were significantly higher than that of the self-pollinated ones (23.2%, 75.2%). M. crassipes should also be partially recognized as an autogamous plant.
The fruit-set and seed-set percentages of M. crassipes × M. figo were 80 and 89%, respectively.
Unfortunately, the reciprocal cross yielded no success.
Further studies should address successes and failures of theses reciprocal crosses of M. crassipes with other Magnolia species.
It became a useful cross breeding germplasm resource.
Field observation in Changsha (China) indicated that its flowers started blooming in late March and continued into early May for about 50 days.
Each flower opened for 4-5 days and pistils were ready before stamens.
The highest vitality for accepting pollen was from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon in the 2nd or 3rd day after bloom.
The outcrossing index (OCI) was 4 and pollen/ovule ratio (P/O) was 2,671±123, which indicated that M. crassipes should be classified as an allogamous plant.
Bagged flowers also produced limited seeds, but seed quality (size and weight) were significantly less than that of artificially cross-pollinated flowers.
Both fruit-set (73.6%) and seed-set (80%) of cross-pollinated flowers were significantly higher than that of the self-pollinated ones (23.2%, 75.2%). M. crassipes should also be partially recognized as an autogamous plant.
The fruit-set and seed-set percentages of M. crassipes × M. figo were 80 and 89%, respectively.
Unfortunately, the reciprocal cross yielded no success.
Further studies should address successes and failures of theses reciprocal crosses of M. crassipes with other Magnolia species.
Authors
Y. Chai, X. Jin, M. Cai
Keywords
Michelia crassipes, breeding system, cross-compatibility
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