LEAF DAMAGE DECREASES POLLEN PRODUCTION AND HINDERS POLLEN PERFORMANCE IN CUCURBITA-TEXANA

Leaf damage is known to adversely affect reproductive output through t he female (fruit and seed) function, but little is known about the eff ects of leaf damage on the male function of plants. This study simulat es the timing, location, and pattern of natural herbivory by diabrotic ite beetles and shows that leaf damage reduces male reproductive succe ss in Cucurbita texana. Partially defoliated branches of C. texana pro duced significantly fewer staminate flowers and fewer pollen grains pe r flower than undamaged branches on the same plant. Moreover, pollen f rom staminate flowers on partially defoliated plants was less likely t o sire seeds than pollen from undamaged plants when deposited onto a s tigma with pollen from a tester line, indicating that leaf damage not only decreases pollen production but also adversely affects pollen per formance.