Abstract

BAZO S, Isamar et al. Studies of the floral, reproductive biology and floral visitors in "Loche" of Lambayeque (Cucurbita moschata DUCHESNE). Ecol. apl. [online]. 2018, vol.17, n.2, pp.191-205. ISSN 1726-2216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/rea.v17i2.1239.

In Peru, Cucurbita moschata Duchesne has a local variety called Loche, it is propagated by cuttings and little is known about its sexual reproduction. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to evaluate floral and reproductive biology in Loche from Lambayeque. The female flowers have a bigger diameter and corolla length than the male ones; however, the latter have longer pedicels and sepals. The male flowering begins before the female with the appearance of flower buds. Female flowers started anthesis process before male flowers. Likewise, during the production of flowers on average, 10 male flowers per female flower was observed. The pollen grain has a viability of 98% from anthesis and decreases to 20% in the next day. The number of average pollen grains per flower ranged between 25 125 and 31 833 and a diameter of 0.1 to 0.2 mm. The stigma is receptive for three days from anthesis. Nectar production was higher in female flowers than in male ones. The Loche presents self-pollination, cross-pollination and open pollination by insects, where the order Hymenoptera has the highest number of families with affinity to flowers and families such as Vespidae and Apidae are the most regular in visits, being the longest in stay Drosophila sp. It also presents asexual reproduction through facultative apomixis.

Keywords : Cucurbita moschata; Loche; floral biology; reproductive biology; pollinators.

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