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Reproductive biology of Prepusa hookeriana (Gentianaceae): an endangered species of high-altitude grasslands in Brazil

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Abstract

The genus Prepusa Martius is endemic to montane regions of Brazil and comprises only six species, most of them endangered. Although studies on reproductive biology are necessary to increase knowledge of this genus and to implement conservation plans, to date, no such studies have been conducted. This study assessed the floral biology, breeding system, and pollinators of Prepusa hookeriana, an endangered species of high-altitude grasslands. We perform field observations and manual pollination experiments. Certain floral traits of this species appear to be associated with hummingbird pollination, although ornithophily is unusual in Gentianaceae. Even though cross-pollination is favoured by the presence of movement herkogamy and protandry, both prior and delayed autonomous self-pollination were observed. The only pollinator observed was the hummingbird Amazilia versicolor. Prepusa hookeriana did not show pollen limitation in the year of study. The absence of pollen limitation is related to the high reproductive success of pollination due to visits, not to autonomous self-pollination. However, we share the idea that the ability of autonomous selfing can provide a backup to cope with occasional pollination failures.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq) for awarding a Master’s scholarship to Ana Luisa Lemos, PARNASO-ICMBio for permission to carry out the study, Luana Almeida Bianquini for hummingbird species identification, and Janet W. Reid for the English review. This study is part of the Master’s dissertation of Ana Luisa Lemos, presented to the Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas—Botânica, Museu Nacional, UFRJ.

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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by ALL, MMM, CRB, ASM, ATAR, and HA de L. The first draft of the manuscript was written by ALL, MMM, CRB, HA de L, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Marina Muniz Moreira.

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Lemos, A.L., Moreira, M.M., Benevides, C.R. et al. Reproductive biology of Prepusa hookeriana (Gentianaceae): an endangered species of high-altitude grasslands in Brazil. Braz. J. Bot 43, 379–387 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-020-00611-w

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