A multi-year study of factors affecting fruit production in Aristolochia paucinervis (Aristolochiaceae)

Pollen limitation, resource limitation, fruit abortion, and predation have all been proposed as factors explaining low fruit set in hermaphroditic plants. We conducted a 5-year study combining field observations and pollination experiments to determine the causes of the low fruit set in Aristolochia paucinervis, a Mediterranean species with a specialized pollination system in two populations in SW Spain. Fruit initiation was markedly low, and between 28.6 and 75.0% of the flowering stems did not initiate any fruit. In most flowers, the number of germinated pollen grains was less than the number of ovules, and supplemental pollination significantly increased fruiting, indicating deficient pollination. In A. paucinervis, autonomous self-pollination seems to be a decisive factor in fruit production because the number of germinated pollen and the fruit set from flowers bagged before anthesis were similar to those in free-pollinated flowers. Only in 2005 did flowers that were successfully pollinated outnumber ripened fruits, suggesting that other factors limit fruiting. We found a significant positive correlation between tuber mass and fruit set. Deficient pollination and lack of resources could explain the low fruit set, but the relative consequences seem to vary spatially and temporarily.