Os objetivos desse trabalho foram avaliar o comportamento meiótico, determinar o índice meiótico e a viabilidade polínica de plantas representantes das espécies silvestres V. goudotina, V. quercifolia e J. spinosa. A avaliação da meiose confirmou que as espécies são diplóides com dezoito cromossomos. A meiose foi parcialmente normal já que algumas anormalidades, como cromossomos pegajosos, retardatários, segregação precoce, falta de sincronia e distúrbios nas fibras do fuso foram observadas. Produtos pós-meióticos (tríades, díades, mônades e políades) resultaram dessas anormalidades e provavelmente contribuíram para o índice meiótico que variou de 85,7 % (V. goudotiana) a 95,9 % (J. spinosa); foi observada variação significativa dentro de V. goudotiana. A viabilidade polínica variou de 68,0 % (V. goudotiana) a 96,0 % (J. spinosa) valores satisfatórios considerando que as espécies são silvestres. Assim, sugere-se que em programas de hibridação envolvendo V. goudotiana os cruzamentos devam ser bem planejados, já que parte dos gametas dessa espécie é inviável.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the meiotic behavior and determine the meiotic index and pollen viability of representative plants of the wild species V. goudotiana, V. quercifolia and J. spinosa. Meiotic analysis confirmed that the species are diploid and have 18 chromosomes. Meiosis was partially normal, since some abnormalities, e.g, sticky and lagging chromosomes, precocious segregation, lack of synchrony, and disturbances in the spindle fibers were observed. These abnormalities resulted in post-meiotic products (monads, dyads, triads, and polyads) that probably contributed to the meiotic index of 85.7 % (V. goudotiana) to 95.9 % (J. spinosa); significant variation was observed in the species V. goudotiana. The pollen viability of 68.0 % (V. goudotiana) to 96.0 % (J. spinosa) was reasonably good in these wild species. Crossings in breeding programs involving V. goudotiana should therefore be carefully planned, since part of the gametes of this species is unviable.

The yellow passion Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg. is allogamous, self incompatible, and it depends of insects pollinators to disseminate the pollen grains. The field work was conducted at Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from October 17 to November 9 and December 12 to 21, 1995. It was analyzed 1565 flower buds, from which 423 showed well developed ovaries, five days after opening, this represents 27% of fruit set by natural pollination. It was observed 76,86 % of completely curved flowers, 21,22 % of partially curved flowers, and 1,92 % flowers without curvature. Five species of bees where observed on the flowers, from which two were the effective pollinator of yellow passion flower: Xylocopa (Megaxylocopa) frontalis (Olivier, 1789) and X. (Neoxylocopa) ordinaria Smith, 1874.