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<p>Understanding the reproductive strategies of rare plant species inhabiting disturbed habitats is essential for predicting their persistence and developing effective conservation measures. <i>Bonamia semidigyna</i> (Convolvulaceae), a rare climber restricted to fragmented roadside habitats in India, remains poorly studied with respect to its reproductive biology. The present study investigated the floral biology, breeding system, and pollination ecology across two natural populations in Tripura, Northeast India, to evaluate factors influencing reproductive success. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity peaked during anthesis, indicating synchronized male and female functionality during the optimal fertilization period. The species exhibited high pollen production but low ovule number, resulting in a high pollen–ovule ratio suggestive of outcrossing. However, controlled breeding experiments demonstrated that <i>B. semidigyna</i> is self-compatible, with high fruit and seed set under both self- and cross-pollination, whereas autonomous self-pollination produced comparatively lower reproductive success. A single butterfly pollinator, <i>Borbo cinnara</i>, was observed visiting the flowers and effectively facilitating pollen transfer. Fruit set increased significantly with increasing single-visit pollen deposition, highlighting the importance of pollinator efficiency in reproductive success. Field observations further suggested the occurrence of pollinator-mediated self-pollination (geitonogamy), particularly under conditions of spatial isolation and asynchronous flowering among individuals. Overall, <i>B. semidigyna</i> exhibits a mixed mating system that combines self-compatibility with pollinator dependence for optimal reproductive output. The study highlights the ecological significance of pollinator activity in maintaining reproductive fitness and suggests that the persistence of this rare species in disturbed habitats may depend strongly on the conservation of its pollination interactions.</p>

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Reproductive strategies and pollinator dependence of the rare climber Bonamia semidigyna in fragmented roadside habitats

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月29日

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  • Sani Das,
  • Marami Mili,
  • Binashree Gogoi,
  • Badal Kumar Datta

摘要

Understanding the reproductive strategies of rare plant species inhabiting disturbed habitats is essential for predicting their persistence and developing effective conservation measures. Bonamia semidigyna (Convolvulaceae), a rare climber restricted to fragmented roadside habitats in India, remains poorly studied with respect to its reproductive biology. The present study investigated the floral biology, breeding system, and pollination ecology across two natural populations in Tripura, Northeast India, to evaluate factors influencing reproductive success. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity peaked during anthesis, indicating synchronized male and female functionality during the optimal fertilization period. The species exhibited high pollen production but low ovule number, resulting in a high pollen–ovule ratio suggestive of outcrossing. However, controlled breeding experiments demonstrated that B. semidigyna is self-compatible, with high fruit and seed set under both self- and cross-pollination, whereas autonomous self-pollination produced comparatively lower reproductive success. A single butterfly pollinator, Borbo cinnara, was observed visiting the flowers and effectively facilitating pollen transfer. Fruit set increased significantly with increasing single-visit pollen deposition, highlighting the importance of pollinator efficiency in reproductive success. Field observations further suggested the occurrence of pollinator-mediated self-pollination (geitonogamy), particularly under conditions of spatial isolation and asynchronous flowering among individuals. Overall, B. semidigyna exhibits a mixed mating system that combines self-compatibility with pollinator dependence for optimal reproductive output. The study highlights the ecological significance of pollinator activity in maintaining reproductive fitness and suggests that the persistence of this rare species in disturbed habitats may depend strongly on the conservation of its pollination interactions.