Mamata Jamwal*, Renuka Kumari and Namrata Sharma
Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu 180006, India
Email: jamwal.mamta@gmail.com
Received-04.11.2017, Revised-23.11.2017
Abstract: Among various plant–animal interactions occurring around us, pollination and herbivory are prominent ones. While the former exemplifies a mutualistic relationship, the latter is reverse of it. Pollinators by their visits influence both quantity and quality of pollen reaching the surface of stigma [6] [13]. Herbivores on the other hand affect plant by impairing its foliage, deterring pollinators and cause loss of pollen and ovules [9] [5]. In order to analyze these relationships and their correlation with reproductive success, studies were conducted in two species of Luffa (family – Cucurbitaceae) namely L. cylindrica and L. acutangula growing in Jammu division of J&K state, India (area of study). Interestingly one among the two was found to be reproductively more efficient and less affected by herbivory.
Keyword: Pollinator, Herbivory, Mutualistic relationship, Reproductive efficiency
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