Reproductive system of Adesmia bicolor

Adesmia bicolor is a native legume with forage potential that develops in the arid-semiarid region of central Argentina. This perennial, herbaceous species shows great colonizing ability due to well-developed stolons. Among the basic characteristics that should be studied in preliminary evaluations of species with forage potential, it is important to determine their reproductive system. Therefore, the objectives of this work are: to determine the reproductive system of two Argentinean populations of A. bicolor from Villa Rumipal, Cordoba, and from Pampa de la Invernada, San Luis, comparing the percentages of different reproductive processes in each population, as well as to identify the insects that pollinate cultivated A. bicolor. Four treatments were carried out: control, spontaneous autogamy occurrence, allogamy occurrence with mechanic stimulation, and autogamy occurrence with mechanic stimulation in the field and in the greenhouse. Possible pollinating insects were determined through direct monitoring in the field. Results suggest that autogamy and preferably allogamy occur in A. bicolor. Furthermore, this species requires of mechanic stimulation to increase seed production. The insects belonging to the Apidae family can be considered pollinators of cultivated A. bicolor.