Abstract

Garcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Roxb. is a tropical tree crop widely gaining attention due to the plenteousness of hydroxycitric acid (HCA), known for its anti-obesity and appetite-reducing activity. The declining male population, coupled with sexual complexity and floral diversity in fruit bearer, are challenging for natural pollination and hence require conservation of the germplasm. The investigation in this study focused on reproductive characterization, resource allocation, reproductive success, and male functionality could better explain the existing sexual system and its mode of reproduction. Great diversity in floral color of G. gummi-gutta specimens ranging from sulphur-yellow to crimson red in hermaphrodite compared to yellow-shaded male flowers was noticed in South Western Ghats. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant variations in floral quantitative characters across the sexual forms. However, no direct association was evident with reproductive success explicitly across male and hermaphrodite flowers. The Student’s t-test among hermaphrodite and male sex morphs unveiled a significant mean difference in pollen germination, and pollination was further defined with correlation analysis. The negative association of pollen germination with the female trait, viz., seed production, shows a trade-off to female reproductive fitness in hermaphrodite flowers. The androdiecious nature of the species is agreed upon the presence of fertile pollen grains by the hermaphrodite trees, and the report is the first of our knowledge.

中文翻译：

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藤黄果雌雄同体的花多色性和雌性适应性。

摘要

藤黄果胶(L.) Roxb. 柠檬酸是一种热带树木作物，因其富含羟基柠檬酸 (HCA) 而广受关注，而羟基柠檬酸以其抗肥胖和降低食欲的活性而闻名。雄性数量的减少，加上果树性的复杂性和花的多样性，对自然授粉构成了挑战，因此需要保护种质。本研究的调查重点是生殖特征、资源分配、生殖成功和男性功能，可以更好地解释现有的性系统及其生殖方式。在西南高止山脉，人们注意到G. gutmi-gutta标本的花色存在巨大差异，从硫黄到雌雄同体的深红色，与黄色阴影的雄花相比。方差分析（ANOVA）揭示了不同性型的花数量性状的显着差异。然而，雄性花和雌雄同体花与繁殖成功没有明显的直接关联。雌雄同体和雄性变体之间的学生t检验揭示了花粉萌发的显着平均差异，并且通过相关分析进一步定义了授粉。花粉萌发与雌性性状（即种子产量）的负相关，表明雌雄同体花中雌性生殖适应性的权衡。该物种的雌雄同体的性质与雌雄同体树存在可育花粉粒有关，这是我们所知的第一份报告。