Seed productivity of Rosa oxyodon Boiss

Abstract

This article presents the results of the study examining the pollination process and seed reproduction in the sharp-toothed wild rose (Rosa oxyodon Boiss.) endemic to the Caucasus. The objects of the study are natural populations of the studied species. To study the processes of pollination, loose buds were isolated with flesilin bags using the method of I.A. Shantser. When studying the germination of R. oxyodon seeds, various sowing options were carried out on the Gunib Plateau: 1) sowing with seeds collected from fruits of different degrees of maturity in August, September, and October in open ground; 2) spring sowing with seeds collected from mature fruits after stratification, scarification and without them. In each variant, 100 seeds were sown. The aim of the study is to examine the reproductive characteristics of R. oxyodon endemic to the Caucasus. Our studies demonstrate that zero percent of R. oxyodon fruits form through self-pollination and geitonogamy. In its natural environment, the species yields enough seeds for potential seed reproduction of a population. Our findings revealed that R. oxyodon is an obligate self-incompatible entomophilous species with low productivity coefficient but high fecundity potential, which guarantees stable seed reproduction of the species. R. oxyodon seeds are characterized by mixed and long dormancy period.