Pollination ecology and breeding system of Elaeagnus angustifolia

The pollination ecology and breeding system of Elaeagnus angustifolia were studied in introduced populations in the middle of Hexi Corridor region in Gansu province of northwest China. We applied five experimental treatments, natural pollination, hand cross-pollination treatment, hand self-pollination treatment, autogamy, agamospermy. None of the experimented flowers produced fruits except natural pollination and cross-pollination treatment. The results confirmed that E angustifolia is a self-incompatible, non-apomictic species that can not produce seeds through self-pollination. Introduced honeybee (Apis mellifera) was the main pollinator of E. angustifolia in the middle of Hexi Corridor region.