10.6084/m9.figshare.1275937.v2 A. Carta A. Carta L. Savio L. Savio G. Bedini G. Bedini L. Peruzzi L. Peruzzi A. Fisogni A. Fisogni M. Galloni M. Galloni All in an afternoon: mixed breeding system in one-day lasting flowers of <i>Hypericum elodes</i> L. (Hypericaceae) Taylor & Francis Group 2015 Hypericum inbreeding depression breeding system pollen germination seed germination self-compatibility wetland 2015-02-16 15:26:28 Dataset https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/All_in_an_afternoon_mixed_breeding_system_in_one_day_lasting_flowers_of_i_Hypericum_elodes_i_L_Hypericaceae_/1275937 <p>Knowledge about mixed mating systems can improve our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of reproductive systems. Here we report a study of the floral and reproductive biology of <i>Hypericum elodes</i>, an Atlantic-European soft-water pools specialist which shows a floral architecture consistent with both self- and cross-pollination. Controlled pollination experiments were performed in a natural population during three consecutive years. Marked flowers were monitored until fruit production, and laboratory germination experiments were conducted with the seeds produced. Plants were self-compatible (SCI>0.75), however, compared with selfing, cross-pollination enhanced fruit-set, seed-set and seedling growth, but not seed germination. Inbreeding depression (δ) was mild in the pre-dispersal stages (δ = 0.22 for fruit set, 0.18 for seed set and 0.13 for seed mass), low for germination percentage (δ = 0.003) and mild for seedling growth (δ = 0.23). The breeding system of <i>H. elodes</i> promotes outcrossing and assures reproductive success by means of competitive autogamy. Our results suggest a mixed mating strategy for the studied population, characterized by mild inbreeding depression (cumulative δ = 0.57), highlighting the benefit of this reproductive mode in unpredictable habitat, as the typical shallow-water meadows where <i>H. elodes</i> grows.</p>