%A Min Chen, Linde Liu, Li Zhang, Lijuan Wang %T Pollination Ecological Studies of Tamarix chinensis in the Middle Reaches of Heihe River and Yantai Seashore %0 Journal Article %D 2012 %J Chinese Bulletin of Botany %R 10.3724/SP.J.1259.2012.00264 %P 264-270 %V 47 %N 3 %U {https://www.chinbullbotany.com/CN/abstract/article_3071.shtml} %8 2012-05-01 %X Tamarix chinensis is an important species in arid and semi-arid areas. For its effective use and cultivation, we conducted a field investigation of the flowering dynamics, pollen viability, stigma receptivity, floral visitors, pollen ovule rate (P/O), outcrossing index (OCI), and rate of fruitset of T. chinensis in the middle reaches of Heihe river and Yantai seashore areas. Stigma receptivity and flowering period were similar in the two areas. The inflorescence flowered at 2 to 5 days. At flowering day, the stigma receptivity in both areas was the highest; after 4 days, the stigma receptivity was reduced to 0. The pollen viability and floral visitors greatly differed in the two areas. On the first flowering day at Heihe river, the pollen viability was as high as (62±4.3)%, with peak viability at (82.1±7.2)%; after 4 days, the viability was reduced to 0. On the first flowering day at the Yantai seashore, the peak pollen viability was (89.1±7.2)%, and after 4 days, the viability decreased to (11±1.12)%. The most common floral visitors in the two areas were from the order hymenoptera, with Bembix melanura, Megachile (Amegachile) kagiana, and Episyrphus balteatus effective pollinators at the Heihe river. Ichneumon sp., Metasyrphus corollae, Delia platura were the main pollinators at the Yantai seashore. The two areas did not differ in P/O, OCI, or fruitset rate. The P/O rates for the two areas were 373.6±71.9 and 382.1±86.2 for the river and seashore, respectively; the fruitset rates were (89.7±7.8)% and (93.2±8.2)%; and the OCI was 3. Outcrossing is the main form of breeding system for T. chinensis in the two areas.