Abstract

HERNANDEZ-JARAMILLO, Alma; PATRICIA PINZON, Olga  and  PARRADO-ROSSELLI, Ángela. Seed predation of Sapindus saponaria L. by Leptostylus gibbulosus Bates (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and its effects on germination. Colomb. for. [online]. 2012, vol.15, n.2, pp.247-260. ISSN 0120-0739.

Seed predation has been considered as a selective process that decreases reproductive fitness of plant species. Fruits and seeds of Sapindus saponaria collected in Anolaima town, between 2009 and 2010 were used to characterize predation of Leptostylus gibbulosus (Cerambycidae) and its effects on germination based on the relation within incidence and severity attack and size of fruit and seeds. Results show that L. gibbulosus affected 25 % of seed under study and considerably reduced germination and reproductive fitness of predated seeds, principally in large seeds. The association between L. gibbulosus and S. saponaria seeds is registered for the first time in Colombia.

Keywords : fruit predation; pre-dispersion predation; seed predation; incidence; severity; germinative fitness.

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