Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera
Mast seeding and associated events in Melocanna baccifera , the largest fruit producing bamboo, is an enigma. So far there are no comprehensive accounts on its flowering phenology, fruiting dynamics and animal interactions. In this study, spanning over 13 years (2009 to 2022), we observed eight M ....
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crplos:10.1371/journal.pone.0277341 2024-05-19T07:47:45+00:00 Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera Koshy, Konnath Chacko Gopakumar, Bhaskaran Sebastian, Antony S., Ajikumaran Nair Johnson, Anil John Govindan, Balaji Baby, Sabulal Wijnen, Herman Science and Engineering Research Board Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277341 https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277341 en eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ PLOS ONE volume 17, issue 11, page e0277341 ISSN 1932-6203 journal-article 2022 crplos https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277341 2024-05-01T07:00:51Z Mast seeding and associated events in Melocanna baccifera , the largest fruit producing bamboo, is an enigma. So far there are no comprehensive accounts on its flowering phenology, fruiting dynamics and animal interactions. In this study, spanning over 13 years (2009 to 2022), we observed eight M . baccifera clumps in JNTBGRI Bambusetum from flowering initiation, fruiting to eventual death. Flowering phenology, floral characteristics, floret types, breeding system, bee visitation, pollination, fruit production and predators were recorded; predation patterns were correlated with fruit chemistry. Flowering duration of clumps ranged from 20 (March 2009—October 2010) to 120 (September 2012—August 2022) months. Bisexual florets are dichogamous and protogynous; and female duration (22–72 h) is many times higher than male duration (2–6 h). The highest ever fruit production for an individual bamboo clump (456.67 Kg) was recorded. Of the total fallen fruits (38371), 38.11% were predated, 43.80% good fruits (no predator hits) and 18.09% immature fruits. A positive correlation between reward (fruits) versus predation was observed, especially in short intervals of high fruit production. Pollen predators ( Apis cerana indica , Halictus taprabonae , Braunsapis cupulifera , Trigona iridipennis ), fruit predators, ranging from arthropods to mammals, viz ., millipede ( Spinotarsus colosseus) , slug ( Mariaella dussumieri ), snails ( Cryptozona bistrialis , Macrochlamys sp.), borers ( Achroia grisella , Blattella germanica ), mammals (monkeys Macaca radiata , rats Rattus rattus , porcupine Hystrix indica , wild boar Sus scrofa , palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus ), seedling predators (rabbit Lepus nigricollis , deer Axis axis ), and insect/pest predators (ants Crematogaster biroi , Oecophylla smaragdina , mantis Euchomenella indica ) were identified. Fruit predation is linked to its age and chemistry. Apart from new insights on flowering phenology, breeding system, pollination and fruiting dynamics, this study demonstrates ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Rattus rattus PLOS PLOS ONE 17 11 e0277341 |
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English |
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Mast seeding and associated events in Melocanna baccifera , the largest fruit producing bamboo, is an enigma. So far there are no comprehensive accounts on its flowering phenology, fruiting dynamics and animal interactions. In this study, spanning over 13 years (2009 to 2022), we observed eight M . baccifera clumps in JNTBGRI Bambusetum from flowering initiation, fruiting to eventual death. Flowering phenology, floral characteristics, floret types, breeding system, bee visitation, pollination, fruit production and predators were recorded; predation patterns were correlated with fruit chemistry. Flowering duration of clumps ranged from 20 (March 2009—October 2010) to 120 (September 2012—August 2022) months. Bisexual florets are dichogamous and protogynous; and female duration (22–72 h) is many times higher than male duration (2–6 h). The highest ever fruit production for an individual bamboo clump (456.67 Kg) was recorded. Of the total fallen fruits (38371), 38.11% were predated, 43.80% good fruits (no predator hits) and 18.09% immature fruits. A positive correlation between reward (fruits) versus predation was observed, especially in short intervals of high fruit production. Pollen predators ( Apis cerana indica , Halictus taprabonae , Braunsapis cupulifera , Trigona iridipennis ), fruit predators, ranging from arthropods to mammals, viz ., millipede ( Spinotarsus colosseus) , slug ( Mariaella dussumieri ), snails ( Cryptozona bistrialis , Macrochlamys sp.), borers ( Achroia grisella , Blattella germanica ), mammals (monkeys Macaca radiata , rats Rattus rattus , porcupine Hystrix indica , wild boar Sus scrofa , palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus ), seedling predators (rabbit Lepus nigricollis , deer Axis axis ), and insect/pest predators (ants Crematogaster biroi , Oecophylla smaragdina , mantis Euchomenella indica ) were identified. Fruit predation is linked to its age and chemistry. Apart from new insights on flowering phenology, breeding system, pollination and fruiting dynamics, this study demonstrates ... |
author2 |
Wijnen, Herman Science and Engineering Research Board Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Koshy, Konnath Chacko Gopakumar, Bhaskaran Sebastian, Antony S., Ajikumaran Nair Johnson, Anil John Govindan, Balaji Baby, Sabulal |
spellingShingle |
Koshy, Konnath Chacko Gopakumar, Bhaskaran Sebastian, Antony S., Ajikumaran Nair Johnson, Anil John Govindan, Balaji Baby, Sabulal Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera |
author_facet |
Koshy, Konnath Chacko Gopakumar, Bhaskaran Sebastian, Antony S., Ajikumaran Nair Johnson, Anil John Govindan, Balaji Baby, Sabulal |
author_sort |
Koshy, Konnath Chacko |
title |
Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera |
title_short |
Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera |
title_full |
Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera |
title_fullStr |
Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera |
title_full_unstemmed |
Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera |
title_sort |
flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, melocanna baccifera |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277341 https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277341 |
genre |
Rattus rattus |
genre_facet |
Rattus rattus |
op_source |
PLOS ONE volume 17, issue 11, page e0277341 ISSN 1932-6203 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277341 |
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PLOS ONE |
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17 |
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11 |
container_start_page |
e0277341 |
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