BIOLOGíA FLORAL Y REPRODUCTIVA DE LA GULUPA PASSIFLORA EDULIS SIMS F. EDULIS

the floral and reproductive biology of passiflora edulis f. edulis was studied in crops located at the cordillera oriental in the colombian andes (buenavista, boyacá). the floral anthesis occurred between 6 and 8 hrs, and the average floral longevity was of 25 hrs. four phenological flower phases were recognized: (1) female with herkogamy, (2) homogamy with herkogamy, (3) homogamy with not herkogamy, and (4) senescence. although the stigmas were receptive during all floral phases, there was a higher fruit production from pollination carried out at the second and third phases. pollen donation occurs at phase 2 with 96% of viability. the production of nectar showed an increasing tendency through the floral life. pollination experiments showed that although p. edulis f. edulis is highly auto-compatible, it requires of pollinators to increase fruit harvesting, as indicated by the low percentage (33%) of fruits obtained without pollinators. our results suggest that gulupa has a mixed reproductive strategy promoting endogamy in some floral phases while promoting crossing in others. the conservation of gulupa's pollinators in buenavista is crucial to keep fruit production as a sustainable activity in the region.