POLLINATION ECOLOGY OF OVIPAROUS SEMI-EVERGREEN MANGROVE TREE SPECIES, XYLOCARPUS GRANATUM KOEN AND X. MEKONGENSIS PIERRE. (MELIACEAE) AT CORINGA MANGROVE FOREST, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13133/2239-3129/14628

Keywords:

Xylocarpus granatum, Xylocarpus mekongensis, monoecy, hawk moths, butterflies, bees, geitonogamy, xenogamy

Abstract

Xylocarpus granatum and X. mekongensis are semi-evergreen tree species. Both species exhibit leaf fall, leaf flushing, flowering and fruiting sequentially. They are seasonal bloomers but also flower sporadically almost throughout the year. The flowers are functionally monoecious and exclusively pollinator-dependent. In cymes, the terminal flower is usually pistillate while the lateral ones are usually staminate. In X. mekongensis, solitary flowers are usually pistillate. In both, the pistillate and staminate flowers produce stamens with dehiscent anthers but ovary is functional only in the former while pollen is fertile only in the latter. Hawk moths are principal pollinators while butterflies and bees are supplementary pollinators in both plant species. Both species fruit through geitonogamy and xenogamy and fruit set in open-pollination is very low which could be attributable to unknown inherent regulatory mechanisms, delicate inflorescence and the production of a few pistillate flowers at plant level. The study suggests that there is an urgent need to protect the surviving trees and take measures to restore the populations of both the species

Author Biography

A. J. Solomon Raju, Andhra University

Dr. Aluri Jacob Solomon Raju is a Professor of Environmental Sciences in Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India. He was the Head of the Department during 2009-2012. He is currently the Chairman, Board of Studies of the Department. Further, he is a member of Academic Senate of the Andhra University. He was the Visiting Professor of University of Colima, Mexico. He was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Akron, USA for a period of two years. He has published more than 300 research papers, participated and presented scores of research papers at more than 75 national and more than 50 International conferences held in India and abroad.  He visited USA, Canada, UK, Brazil, Paraguay, Italy, Mexico, France, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Ethiopia and Tanzania. In recognition of his superior record of scholarship, he was awarded Distinguished Achievement Award by the University of Akron, USA. He is also the recipient of Best Research Award and Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Best Academician Award of Andhra University, Loyola Environmental Award from Loyola College, Chennai and Andhra Pradesh Scientist Award from Andhra Pradesh Council of Science & Technology, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. He successfully completed a number of major research projects on the Eastern Ghats Forests funded by ICAR, UGC, DST, CSIR, DBT and MoEF. He has been awarded UGC-BSR Grant for distinguished achievements in his research field. He has also worked on biodiesel plants such as Pongamia and Jatropha and work on these plants laid foundation for others to initiate work in commercial lines.  He has also published ten books on various subjects published by national and international publishers. Twenty five Ph.Ds and 10 M.Phils were awarded under his guidance. Further, he is currently serving as a resource person for All India Radio, TV Channels, Consultant for issues relating to environment. Further, he is currently operating a DST Project on the reproductive biology keystone plant species. He is an expert-cum-reviewer for scores of scientific journals published by Elsevier, Springer publishers, Indian Publishers, US Publishers and African Publishers. He is the Chief Editor of Advances in Pollen-Spore Research and Journal of Palynology. He is the Expert member of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India in sanctioning the research projects.  

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Published

2019-12-06

How to Cite

Solomon Raju, A. J. (2019). POLLINATION ECOLOGY OF OVIPAROUS SEMI-EVERGREEN MANGROVE TREE SPECIES, XYLOCARPUS GRANATUM KOEN AND X. MEKONGENSIS PIERRE. (MELIACEAE) AT CORINGA MANGROVE FOREST, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA. Annali Di Botanica, 10, 67–76. https://doi.org/10.13133/2239-3129/14628

Issue

VOL 10 (2020)

Section

Research Articles

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