Study on Flowering Dynamics and Pollination Habits of Monochasma savatieri Under Artificial Cultivation Conditions

The research aimed to investigate the reproductive biology of M. Savatieri (Monochasma savatieri Franch. ex Maxim.), focusing on its floral structure, developmental stages, flowering dynamics, pollen dispersal characteristics, stigma development, and longevity, as well as self-crossing affinity in both indoor and outdoor cultivation conditions. The study divided the flower development process into four distinct stages: the bud stage (1-3 days), the present bud stage (4-8 days), the pollination stage (9-14 days), and the fruiting stage (15-35 days). Pollen dispersal begins one hour after flowering during the pollination stage and ends within five hours under both indoor and outdoor sunny conditions. Pollen remains highly viable for up to 60 days. Stigma receptivity reaches its maximum at 94.44% on the first day of flowering, decreases to 68.2% by the fourth day, and further declines to 16.7% on the fifth day. The plant, with an outcrossing index (OCI) of 3, shows a 28.80% outcrossing rate in indoor environments and 9.57% in outdoor conditions. It primarily relies on heterogamous pollination while being capable of both self-pollination and artificial pollination. The results provide significant insights into the breeding and production of M. savatieri.