Mating in the pseudogamic apomictic Anemopaegma acutifolium DC: Another case of pseudo-self-compatibility in Bignoniaceae?

Self-compatibility in apomictic pseudogamic species is considered fundamental to assure reproduction by seeds in extreme situations, making apomictic species more advantageous than sexual ones in these scenarios. Anemopaegma acutifolium is a polyploidy, apomictic sporophytic species with no endosperm development in ovules of unpollinated pistils, which indicates obligate pseudogamy. Thus, the aim of the present work is to study the breeding system and post-pollination events to test if there is similar pseudogamous development irrespective of pollination treatment. We analysed fruit and seed set obtained in controlled experimental pollinations, as well as embryo number per seed, and the progress of ovule penetration, fertilisation and early endosperm development between self- and cross-pollinated pistils. We found that the species is self-fertile and that spontaneous selfing fruit set is also possible, although emasculated flowers never form fruits. Selfed pistils were as efficient as crossed ones for all parameters analysed, except for a delay in endosperm development observed in the former that may be an effect of the late-acting self-incompatibility. Therefore, the avoidance of selfed pistil abortion seems to be promoted by the presence of adventitious embryos and a normal endosperm. We conclude that A. acutifolium shows apomixis-related pseudo-self-compatibility, as in other self-fertile apomictic species of Bignoniaceae, which confer reproductive assurance and increases fruit-set and persistence ability in fast-changing tropical habitats. © 2012 German Botanical Society and The Royal Botanical Society of the Netherlands.

Evidence for balancing selection operating at the het-c heterokaryon incompatibility locus in a group of filamentous fungi

In filamentous fungi, het loci (for heterokaryon incompatibility) are believed to regulate self/nonself-recognition during vegetative growth. As filamentous fungi grow, hyphal fusion occurs within an individual colony to form a network. Hyphal fusion can occur also between different individuals to form a heterokaryon, in which genetically distinct nuclei occupy a common cytoplasm. However, heterokaryotic cells are viable only if the individuals involved have identical alleles at all het loci. One het locus, het-c, has been characterized at the molecular level in Neurospora crassa and encodes a glycine-rich protein. In an effort to understand the role of this locus in filamentous fungi, we chose to study its evolution by analyzing het-c sequence variability in species within Neurospora and related genera. We determined that the het-c locus was polymorphic in a field population of N. crassa with close to equal frequency of each of the three allelic types. Different species and even genera within the Sordariaceae shared het-c polymorphisms, indicating that these polymorphisms originated in an ancestral species. Finally, an analysis of the het-c specificity region shows a high occurrence of nonsynonymous substitution. The persistence of allelic lineages, the nearly equal allelic distribution within populations, and the high frequency of nonsynonymous substitutions in the het-c specificity region suggest that balancing selection has operated to maintain allelic diversity at het-c. Het-c shares this particular evolutionary characteristic of departing from neutrality with other self/nonself-recognition systems such as major histocompatibility complex loci in mammals and the S (self-incompatibility) locus in angiosperms.

How flowering plants discriminate between self and non-self pollen to prevent inbreeding.

Flowering plants have evolved various genetic mechanisms to circumvent the tendency for self-fertilization created by the close proximity of male and female reproductive organs in a bisexual flower. One such mechanism is gametophytic self-incompatibility, which allows the female reproductive organ, the pistil, to distinguish between self pollen and non-self pollen; self pollen is rejected, whereas non-self pollen is accepted for fertilization. The Solanaceae family has been used as a model to study the molecular and biochemical basis of self/non-self-recognition and self-rejection. Discrimination of self and non-self pollen by the pistil is controlled by a single polymorphic locus, the S locus. The protein products of S alleles in the pistil, S proteins, were initially identified based on their cosegregation with S alleles. S proteins have recently been shown to indeed control the ability of the pistil to recognize and reject self pollen. S proteins are also RNases, and the RNase activity has been shown to be essential for rejection of self pollen, suggesting that the biochemical mechanism of self-rejection involves the cytotoxic action of the RNase activity. S proteins contain various numbers of N-linked glycans, but the carbohydrate moiety has been shown not to be required for the function of S proteins, suggesting that the S allele specificity determinant of S proteins lies in the amino acid sequence. The male component in self-incompatibility interactions, the pollen S gene, has not yet been identified. The possible nature of the pollen S gene product and the possible mechanism by which allele-specific rejection of pollen is accomplished are discussed.

Review of genetic improvement of pineapple.

World consumption of fresh pineapple has quadrupled in less than 15 years (Loeillet and Pacqui, 2009). This phenomenal event started around 1996 when the first dedicated fresh market pineapple, '73-114', was released by Del Monte Inc. This was the culmination of somewhere in the vicinity of 34 years of breeding and selection and comprised 24 individual parent combinations (Anon., PRI breeding records). This demonstrates the difficulty of breeding new pineapple cultivars but also the value of a successful program. The success of '73-114' and the competitive nature of world pineapple markets have provided impetus for pineapple breeding programs. However, the highly heterozygous nature and self-incompatibility of pineapple limit breeding strategy options. This review looks at the collective experience in pineapple genetic improvement both conventional and using biotechnology tools, with an emphasis on fresh market pineapple. It focus on relevant pineapple reproductive biology, breeding strategies, parent cultivars and the relevance of biotechnology.

羊草繁殖生物学特性的研究

羊草(Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. )又称碱草，隶属禾本科，赖草属，因其营养价值高，富含蛋白质，适口性好，抗旱，耐盐碱，耐贫瘠，抗逆性强，适应性广等优点，对我国发展草原畜牧业和退化草地、荒漠化治理方面具有举足轻重的作用。近年来，由于自然环境变劣，荒漠化加剧，以及过度放牧等不利影响，加之羊草本身固有的“三低”问题（即结实率低、出苗率低、产草量低）已对羊草生物多样性维持构成了严重的威胁，严重限制了我国人工草地建设和天然草地的改良和沙化治理的步伐。加强羊草生物学研究，开展羊草种质生物多样性保护，成为当前研究的紧迫课题。经对国内外相关文献的查新发现：国外发表的文献匮乏，国内的报导大多集中在草原生态等宏观领域，在羊草繁殖生物学方面缺乏系统的研究。本文以本课题组从国内外收集的羊草资源为材料，从以下几个方面进行了初步探索： 一、羊草繁殖性状与遗传多样性分子标记指标的相关分析。利用分子标记与形态标记对随机抽取的17份羊草种质进行了种质评估的比较研究。结果表明：两种方法均在17份供试材料中鉴别出9份羊草种质,说明分子标记方法用于羊草种质资源鉴定是可行的，并具有快速、准确、不受环境条件限制等优点。在40个10 Mer的随机引物当中筛选出21个有效引物，以之对9份羊草材料进行RAPD 分析，共扩增出115条带，其中95条带表现出多态性，多态比率82.61%，并筛选出S1213-900，S1213-1700，S1215-5500， S1396-1370，S1384-900，S1202-5180，S1220-2200，S1381-1580，S1211-1300，S1211-800为羊草种质所具有的10个特异性标记，据此可将羊草种质与披肩草、赖草加以区分。同时在羊草种内亦发现13条可区分供试羊草种质的特有标记。形态标记与分子标记相关性分析结果显示：羊草种质的小穗数，种子千粒重，叶色，有性繁殖量和结实率5个形态学指标与遗传多样性指标---特有带百分率及遗传距离之间，存在一定相关性。同时对羊草种质资源在收集和评价过程中存在的问题进行了探讨。 二、羊草不同基因型无性繁殖特性比较研究。以本课题组从吉林、内蒙古等省份收集的10个基因型羊草为供试材料，在相同的生态因子作用下，以吉生1号羊草为对照，对10个基因型羊草的叶数增量、芽数增量、芽高度、芽间距、芽重量、根量六个无性系形态性状指标进行测评。结果表明：基因型的差异也是影响羊草无性系生长发育的重要影响因子。因此，在今后的羊草无性繁殖生物学研究中，应综合考虑环境因子和基因型因子对羊草无性繁殖生长发育的影响。在所测评的10个基因型中，各基因型的形态性状指标差异很大，栽3基因型较其他基因型优于对照吉生1号，此结论可为今后培育羊草新种提供重要资料。 三、羊草幼穗离体培养方法的建立。其方法是取羊草幼穗为外植体，经0.1%升汞溶液表面消毒后，接种到含2mg/L的2,4-D的MS培养基上，置于恒温25℃条件下诱导愈伤组织。在加有1mg/L2,4-D的MS培养基上继代2次后，转移到含1mg/L KT和0.5mg/LNAA的MS培养基上分化培养得到再生芽。在除去激素后的基本培养基上获得了生根的试管苗。试管苗移栽到温室后生长正常。羊草试管苗的分化因基因型和外源激素条件的不同而异。 四、羊草有性生殖特性的研究。在自然条件下进行了羊草自交、异交结实性实验，采用FDA染色法检测羊草小孢子活性，并观测羊草雌蕊、雄蕊发育的时空特点。结果表明：在大田中羊草异交结实率远大于其自交结实率;成熟花药中有活性的花粉达到92.2%以上;同时，在发育时间顺序和空间结构上，羊草的雌蕊、雄蕊并不妨碍自体授粉。因此，初步结论认为羊草具自交不和性。

羊草生殖生物学研究

羊草 (Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. ) ，隶属禾本科赖草属，是欧亚大陆草原区东部的重要草原建群种之一。羊草是牧草之王，属于我国有比较优势的战略性生物资源，对我国北方畜牧业发展以及保护生态环境均具有重要作用。 羊草较弱的有性生殖特性限制了其应用，本文从实验生物学角度，研究了羊草有性生殖的基本特点，并试图通过现代分子生物学手段探讨自交不亲和性的有关机理。本论文的主要结果如下： 1. 实验发现羊草具有自交不亲和性。以6 个羊草居群为材料，测定得知开放授粉时的结实率在6.5% - 56.7%之间，自交时结实率为0.6% - 4.3%，差异极其显著; FDA 染色法检测结果显示羊草成熟花药中有活性的花粉达到92.2% 以上;在发育时间顺序和空间结构上，羊草雌蕊、雄蕊适于异花和自花授粉;花粉柱头亲和性实验表明，自交花粉只有5.5%-11.7% 是亲和的，杂交花粉亲和率达到了60.0%-84.8%，说明自交花粉在柱头上萌发受到抑制，其次，荧光显微镜还观察到“不亲和花粉”在进入柱头后生长缓慢，或停止延伸。 2. 初步确定羊草自交不亲和性具有配子体型遗传特点。以不同居群羊草杂交后的姊妹系作为实验材料，观察到自交组合的亲和率变幅为0 % - 6.9 %，杂交组合的亲和率具有连续性变异和变幅较宽的特点（47.5％ - 96.0 %），且正反交结果具有一定的一致性（88.2％），表现出配子体遗传特性。 3. 羊草居群内结实率存在一定变异。以羊草单株为单位分别进行自交、随机互交和开放授粉，结果显示三者的平均结实率分别为4.6%，18.1% 和35.7%，株间的变异系数分别为33.4%，21.2%和17.1%，这些株间的变异均达到统计上的显著差异;同时羊草自交、杂交和开放授粉之间具有一定的相关性，显示羊草的这种株间差异与株系本身的生理特性相关。 4. 分离了羊草硫氧化还原蛋白 H 基因(ThioLc)并对其功能进行了分析。克隆了ThioLc全长和cDNA序列。序列分析结果显示，DNA全长2257 bp，包括3 个内含子和4 个外显子，与水稻Thio h 的cDNA 序列相比，具有 32.0% 的同源性;Southern 杂交显示 ThioLc 在羊草基因组中是单拷贝;Northern 杂交显示 ThioLc 在羊草根、茎、叶和幼小的雌蕊中没有表达, 在成熟雌蕊和幼小的花粉中微量表达, 在成熟花粉中大量表达，说明分离的羊草硫氧化还原蛋白H 基因具有花粉特异表达特点。 5. 原核表达的ThioLc 蛋白具有较高的催化活性。构建了ThioLc 基因的原核表达载体，检测证明ThioLc基因在大肠杆菌中正常表达;提取表达蛋白，纯化，用胰岛素和二硫苏糖醇反应体系进行硫氧化还原蛋白的催化作用反应，结果表明表达的蛋白具有催化活性。这一结果为进一步搜寻靶向蛋白和研究该蛋白的结构、功能和作用方式奠定了基础。

Destinée des S-RNases dans les tubes polliniques lors des croisements compatibles et incompatibles

L’auto-incompatibilité (AI) est la capacité génétiquement déterminée d’une plante fertile de rejeter son propre pollen. Chez les Solanacées l’AI dépend des éléments d’un locus fort complexe (locus S) multigénique. L’élément du locus-S exprimé dans le pistil est une ribonucléase (S-RNase) dont le rôle est de dégrader l’ARN chez le pollen self, tandis que l’élément du locus S exprimé dans le pollen est un ensemble de protéines du type F-box, qui sont normalement impliquées dans la dégradation des protéines. Cependant, comment les S-RNases self restent actives lors des croisements incompatibles et comment les S-RNases non-self sont inactivées lors des croisements compatibles ce n’est encore pas clair. Un modèle propose que les S-RNases non-self soient dégradées lors des croisements compatibles. Un autre modèle propose que toutes les S-RNases, self et non-self, soient d'abord séquestrées à l’intérieur d’une vacuole, et elles y resteraient lors des croisements compatibles. Lors de croisements incompatibles, par contre, elles seraient relâchées dans le cytoplasme, où elles pourront exercer leur action cytotoxique. Notre étude tente de répondre à ces questions. Notamment, nous cherchons à mettre en évidence la localisation vacuolaire et/ou cytoplasmique des S-RNases et leur concentration par immunolocalisation, en utilisant un anticorps ciblant la S11-RNase de Solanum chacoense et la microcopie électronique à transmission. Nos résultats montrent que la densité de marquage observée pour les S-RNases cytoplasmiques est significativement plus haute dans les tubes incompatibles que dans ceux compatibles ce qui nous indique que pour qu’un tube pollinique soit compatible il doit contenir une faible densité de S-RNase cytoplasmique.

Destins des S-RNases et interactions moléculaires dans le tube pollinique dans le cadre de l’auto-incompatibilité gamétophytique chez Solanum chacoense

L’auto-incompatibilité (AI) est une barrière reproductive prézygotique qui permet aux pistils d’une fleur de rejeter leur propre pollen. Les systèmes d’AI peuvent prévenir l’autofertilisation et ainsi limiter l’inbreeding. Dans l’AI gamétophytique, le génotype du pollen détermine son propre phénotype d’incompatibilité, et dans ce système, les déterminants mâles et femelles de l’AI sont codés par un locus multigénique et multi-allélique désigné le locus S. Chez les Solanaceae, le déterminant femelle de l’AI est une glycoprotéine stylaire extracellulaire fortement polymorphique possédant une activité ribonucléase et désignée S-RNase. Les S-RNases montrent un patron caractéristique de deux régions hypervariables (HVa et HVb), responsables de leur détermination allélique, et cinq régions hautement conservées (C1 à C5) impliquées dans l’activité catalytique ou la stabilisation structurelle de ces protéines. Dans ce travail, nous avons investigué plusieurs caractéristiques des S-RNases et identifié un nouveau ligand potentiel aux S-RNases chez Solanum chacoense. L’objectif de notre première étude était l’élucidation du rôle de la région C4 des S-RNases. Afin de tester l’hypothèse selon laquelle la région C4 serait impliquée dans le repliement ou la stabilité des S-RNases, nous avons généré un mutant dans lequel les quatre résidus chargés présents en région C4 furent remplacés par des résidus glycine. Cette protéine mutante ne s’accumulant pas à des niveaux détectables, la région C4 semble bien avoir un rôle structurel. Afin de vérifier si C4 est impliquée dans une liaison avec une autre protéine, nous avons généré le mutant R115G, dans lequel un acide aminé chargé fût éliminé afin de réduire les affinités de liaison dans cette région. Ce mutant n’affectant pas le phénotype de rejet pollinique, il est peu probable que la région C4 soit impliquée dans la liaison des S-RNases avec un ligand ou leur pénétration à l’intérieur des tubes polliniques. Enfin, le mutant K113R, dans lequel le seul résidu lysine conservé parmi toutes les S-RNases fût remplacé par un résidu arginine, fût généré afin de vérifier si cette lysine était un site potentiel d’ubiquitination des S-RNases. Toutefois, la dégradation des S-RNases ne fût pas inhibée. Ces résultats indiquent que C4 joue probablement un rôle structurel de stabilisation des S-RNases. Dans une seconde étude, nous avons analysé le rôle de la glycosylation des S-RNases, dont un site, en région C2, est conservé parmi toutes les S-RNases. Afin d’évaluer la possibilité que les sucres conjugués constituent une cible potentielle d’ubiquitination, nous avons généré une S11-RNase dont l‘unique site de glycosylation en C2 fût éliminé. Ce mutant se comporte de manière semblable à une S11-RNase de type sauvage, démontrant que l’absence de glycosylation ne confère pas un phénotype de rejet constitutif du pollen. Afin de déterminer si l’introduction d’un sucre dans la région HVa de la S11-RNase pourrait affecter le rejet pollinique, nous avons généré un second mutant comportant un site additionnel de glycosylation dans la région HVa et une troisième construction qui comporte elle aussi ce nouveau site mais dont le site en région C2 fût éliminé. Le mutant comportant deux sites de glycosylation se comporte de manière semblable à une S11-RNase de type sauvage mais, de manière surprenante, le mutant uniquement glycosylé en région HVa peut aussi rejeter le pollen d’haplotype S13. Nous proposons que la forme non glycosylée de ce mutant constitue un allèle à double spécificité, semblable à un autre allèle à double spécificité préalablement décrit. Il est intéressant de noter que puisque ce phénotype n’est pas observé dans le mutant comportant deux sites de glycosylation, cela suggère que les S-RNases ne sont pas déglycosylées à l’intérieur du pollen. Dans la dernière étude, nous avons réalisé plusieurs expériences d’interactions protéine-protéine afin d’identifier de potentiels interactants polliniques avec les S-RNases. Nous avons démontré que eEF1A, un composant de la machinerie de traduction chez les eucaryotes, peut lier une S11-RNase immobilisée sur résine concanavaline A. Des analyses de type pull-down utilisant la protéine eEF1A de S. chacoense étiquetée avec GST confirment cette interaction. Nous avons aussi montré que la liaison, préalablement constatée, entre eEF1A et l’actine est stimulée en présence de la S11-RNase, bien que cette dernière ne puisse directement lier l’actine. Enfin, nous avons constaté que dans les tubes polliniques incompatibles, l’actine adopte une structure agrégée qui co-localise avec les S-RNases. Ces résultats suggèrent que la liaison entre eEF1A et les S-RNases pourrait constituer un potentiel lien fonctionnel entre les S-RNases et l’altération du cytosquelette d’actine observée lors des réactions d’AI. Par ailleurs, si cette liaison est en mesure de titrer les S-RNases disponibles à l’intérieur du tube pollinique, ce mécanisme pourrait expliquer pourquoi des quantités minimales ou « seuils » de S-RNases sont nécessaires au déclenchement des réactions d’AI.

A genetic linkage map of microsatellite, gene-specific and morphological markers in diploid Fragaria

Diploid Fragaria provide a potential model for genomic studies in the Rosaceae. To develop a genetic linkage map of diploid Fragaria, we scored 78 markers (68 microsatellites, one sequence-characterised amplified region, six gene-specific markers and three morphological traits) in an interspecific F2 population of 94 plants generated from a cross of F.vesca f. semperflorens × F. nubicola. Co-segregation analysis arranged 76 markers into seven discrete linkage groups covering 448 cM, with linkage group sizes ranging from 100.3 cM to 22.9 cM. Marker coverage was generally good; however some clustering of markers was observed on six of the seven linkage groups. Segregation distortion was observed at a high proportion of loci (54%), which could reflect the interspecific nature of the progeny and, in some cases, the self-incompatibility of F. nubicola. Such distortion may also account for some of the marker clustering observed in the map. One of the morphological markers, pale-green leaf (pg) has not previously been mapped in Fragaria and was located to the mid-point of linkage group VI. The transferable nature of the markers used in this study means that the map will be ideal for use as a framework for additional marker incorporation aimed at enhancing and resolving map coverage of the diploid Fragaria genome. The map also provides a sound basis for linkage map transfer to the cultivated octoploid strawberry.

A genetic linkage map of an apple rootstock progeny anchored to the Malus genome sequence

An apple rootstock progeny raised from the cross between the very dwarfing ‘M.27’ and the more vigorous ‘M.116’ (‘M.M.106’ × ‘M.27’) was used for the construction of a linkage map comprising a total of 324 loci: 252 previously mapped SSRs, 71 newly characterised or previously unmapped SSR loci (including 36 amplified by 33 out of the 35 novel markers reported here), and the self-incompatibility locus. The map spanned the 17 linkage groups (LG) expected for apple covering a genetic distance of 1,229.5 cM, an estimated 91% of the Malus genome. Linkage groups were well populated and, although marker density ranged from 2.3 to 6.2 cM/SSR, just 15 gaps of more than 15 cM were observed. Moreover, only 17.5% of markers displayed segregation distortion and, unsurprisingly in a semi-compatible backcross, distortion was particularly pronounced surrounding the self-incompatibility locus (S) at the bottom of LG17. DNA sequences of 273 SSR markers and the S locus, representing a total of 314 loci in this investigation, were used to anchor to the ‘Golden Delicious’ genome sequence. More than 260 of these loci were located on the expected pseudo-chromosome on the ‘Golden Delicious’ genome or on its homeologous pseudo-chromosome. In total, 282.4 Mbp of sequence from 142 genome sequence scaffolds of the Malus genome were anchored to the ‘M.27’ × ‘M.116’ map, providing an interface between the marker data and the underlying genome sequence. This will be exploited for the identification of genes responsible for traits of agronomic importance such as dwarfing and water use efficiency.

The Pollination Biology and Mating System of a Peripheral Population of Witheringia solanacea (Solanaceae)

Pollinator visitation rates over the life of a flower are determined by pollinator abundance and floral longevity. If flowers are not visited frequently enough, pollen limitation may occur, favoring the evolution of self-compatibility (SC). In plant species with varying SC levels, central populations often are self-incompatible (SI) and peripheral populations are SC. Witheringia solanacea (Solanaceae) is a species that follows this trend with the exception of one population in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which is peripheral yet SI. I investigated this population using multiple techniques including floral bagging, pollinator observations, microsatellite analysis, and floral longevity manipulations. My results confirmed the self-incompatibility of the Monteverde population and indicated low but perhaps adequate rates of pollinator visitation per flower per hour. I found reduced genetic diversity at Monteverde and gene flow occurring unidirectionally from San Luis (a central population) to Monteverde. In the greenhouse, there was more of an effect of male than female function on floral longevity, but the largest differences were environmental. Flowers stayed open substantially longer when cool, cloudy weather was simulated and shorter when conditions were hot and sunny. The results indicate that the Monteverde population of W. solanacea is SI because 1) it is unable to maximize its fitness due to gene flow from San Luis and its relatively recent colonization of the area and 2) pollen limitation may not be severe because of supplemental pollinator availability from other Witheringia species in the area and increased floral longevities due to cool and cloudy conditions.

A Pollen Chase Experiment; Examining Varying Levels of Embryonic Inbreeding Depression

A pollen chase experiment was performed upon three Costa Rican populations of Witheringia solanacea to examine the breakdown of genetically enforced self incompatibility (SI) and the extent of embryonic inbreeding depression. Self-pollen was applied in the bud, with outcross pollen applied one day later, and outcross pollinations at both intervals as a control. A variety of responses were found among the populations. BOHS readily accepted self pollen and suffered from very low inbreeding depression. Monteverde and Las Cruces both have lower fruit set with self-pollination precedence indicating that bud pollinations can overcome the self-incompatibility response and that embryonic death due to inbreeding depression causes fruit failure. The treatment:control fruit set is higher for the Las Cruces plants indicating stronger SI response Self-precedence seeds from the Las Cruces plants are likely to be outcrossed. Self-precedence seeds from Monteverde are likely selfed.

Sistema reprodutivo do Ipê-Branco: Tabebuia roseo-alba (Ridley) Sandwith (Bignoniaceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Ecologia da polinização de Ipomoea asarifolia (Ders.) Roem. & Schult. (Convolvulaceae) na região semi-árida de Pernambuco

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Breeding systems of shrubs and trees of a Brazilian savanna

The reproductive biology of shrubs and trees of a preserved savanna (''cerrado'') area in the municipality of Corumbatai São Paulo State, Brazil was studied. The floral sexuality of 135 species were characterized, with 85.2 % hermaphroditic, 9.4 % dioecious, 4.5 % monoecious, and one determine the breeding systems. Nine apomictic species were found, all belonging Melastomataceae. Among the twelve sexual reproducing species, seven (58.3 %) proved to be self-compatible, and five (41.7 %) self-incompatible. Anemophily was found in five species, although pollinations systems were not investigated in other species.