REPRODUCTIVE-BIOLOGY AND RELATIVE MALE AND FEMALE FITNESS IN A TRIOECIOUS CACTUS, PACHYCEREUS-PRINGLEI (CACTACEAE)

We describe the breeding system of an autotetraploid trioecious cactus , Pachycereus pringlei, provide estimates of the fitnesses of males an d females relative to that of hermaphrodites, and discuss the role pla yed by pollinators in the maintenance of three sexual morphs. Relative ly high frequencies of females (45%) and males (26%) exist in coastal desert populations around Bahia Kino, Sonora, Mexico. They differ from hermaphrodites in flower size (females only), initiation of the flowe ring season, number of flowers produced per night and per season, sucr ose content of nectar, and, in females, number of fruits produced per season under open pollination and in response to hand-pollination. Maj or similarities between the sex classes include overall plant size, ne ctar volume per flower, percent fruit set in open-pollinated flowers o f females and hermaphrodites, seed mass and number of seeds per fruit, and pollen mass per flower in males and hermaphrodites. Hermaphrodite s are self-compatible, and the selfing rate is high (65%). Levels of i nbreeding depression in selfed fruits and seeds appear to be low. Frui t set is strongly pollinator-dependent in females but much less so in hermaphrodites. Relative fitness of males and females, as measured by annual production of pollen or seeds, is at least 1.5 times higher tha n that of the corresponding sex function in hermaphrodites. Given the high selfing rate and apparent lack of inbreeding depression, these fi tness differences are insufficient to explain the occurrence of trioec y in this species.