Abstract: In order to study the flowering characteristics and breeding system of Lonicera alberti, we observed flower characteristics, floral dynamic and pollination insects in the field during the flowering period. We tested the pollen viability by TTC staining, MTT staining, benzidine α-naphthol staining and carmine acetate dyeing, and estimated its stigma receptivity by benzidine-hydrogen peroxide and diphenyl tetrazolium bromide staining methods. We studied the breeding system of L.alberti by the pollen-ovule ratio(P/O), the out-crossing index(OCI), and artificial pollination methods. There are two kinds of L.alberti flowers opening:corolla lobes blooming one by one and corolla lobes simultaneous blooming. The pollen viability reached the maximum at 6 hours after anthers shedding, and stigma receptivity was increased after bloom; Apis mellifera played an important role in the process of pollination. P/O was 583.43±99.90 and the outcrossing index was 4. By artificial pollination testing, cross-pollination rate was 79.17%, and the self-fertility rate was 9.52%. The research suggested that the breeding system of L.alberti belonged to mixed mating system and cross pollination requires pollinators.

Key words: Lonicera alberti, flowering dynamics, breeding system, pollen viability, stigma receptivity