Evidências Moleculares de autopolinização em um exemplar monóico de Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze

Abstract

Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze is a primarily dioiceous conifer species native from Brazil. However, rare monoiceous samples are also found in nature. It is suggested that the occurrence of monoicy in this species is due to pathogenic infections or other kind of injuries on the adult plant. Up to now, there is no other explanation given to this phenomenon. This work describes the analysis of seed viability and occurrence of self pollination in a monoiceous sample of A. Angustifolia found in its natural area of occurrence, in Lages, Santa Catarina. Brazil. Ripe seeds were collected from a monoiceous individual in the winter 2009 and germinated in pots in the municipality of São Gabriel, RS. Seeds or roots were sampled from the plantlets for DNA extraction, followed by the molecular analysis using microsatellite markers. Leaf samples from the mother-plant were included in the analysis. All seeds tested germinated normally and the molecular analysis of four microsatellite loci revealed strong evidence of self pollination for all samples.