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VOL. 6, ISSUE 1 (2024)
Pollination biology and breeding behaviour of Datura innoxia Mill
Authors
Dr. Vijay Laxmi Hada
Abstract
The pollination process is essential to a plant's long-term viability
because it produces seeds and transmits genetic material to the offspring.
Additionally, the wide range of pollination mechanism provides excellent
opportunities to study the degree of co-evolution that occurs between
pollinators and plants. Many plant features, such as floral appearance,
phenology, self-incompatibility and floral structure have an impact on plant
mating systems and pollinator behaviour. Datura innoxia Mill. (Family-
Solanaceae) is an evergreen, invasive, branched herb producing a large amount
of white colored flowers that have an appealing appearance and secrets copious
amount of nectar. In the present study floral visitors and the breeding
behaviour of Datura innoxia Mill. have been studied, aiming to contribute the
knowledge of pollination biology of the studied species. In order to
find out the pollination biology, floral visitors and breeding behaviour of
Datura innoxia Mill, field experiments were conducted in the selected study
sites in Kota district of Rajasthan throughout the flowering season in year
2021 and 2022. Floral visitors of Datura innoxia observed are Manduca sexta
(Hawk moth), Apis indica (Indian honey bee), Apis dorsata (Giant honey bee),
Pantala flavescens (Dragonfly), Dysdercus cingulatus Fab. (Red cotton bug),
Eristalinus megacephalus Rossi. (Spot eye hover fly) and Aulacophora intermedia
Jacoby. (Pumpkin beetle). Due to their ability to transfer numerous pollen
grains from one flower to another, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera are the primary
groups of pollinators in Datura innoxia Mill. As they enter the corolla tube of
a flower in the serching of nectar and pollen, pollen grains stick to their
body parts and move with them from one location to another. The primary
pollinator of Datura species is Manduca sexta L. It visits flowers at dusk and
at night and plays an important role in pollination. Some other most frequent
pollinators of Datura innoxia are Apis indica Fab. (Indian honey bee), Apis
dorsata Fab. (Giant honey bee) and Pantala flavescens Fab. (Dragonfly). They
visit flowers in the morning and afternoon for pollen as well as nectar reward
and play a significant role in pollination. The results of breeding experiments
revealed that Datura innoxia Mill. is a highly self-compatible as well as cross
pollinated invasive plant species, it exhibits xenogamy, geitonogamy and thus
shows various ways of breeding system. Instead Apomixis all five types breeding
experiments produced good percentage of fruit sets.
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Pages:37-44
How to cite this article:
Dr. Vijay Laxmi Hada "Pollination biology and breeding behaviour of <i>Datura innoxia</i> Mill". International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Vol 6, Issue 1, 2024, Pages 37-44
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