Floral biology of tuberose (Agave amica) – A review

Agave amica commonly known as tuberose, is an economically important ornamental species cultivated for its highly fragrant flowers and commercial value in the cut flower, loose flower and perfumery industries. A comprehensive understanding of its floral biology is essential for improving reproductive efficiency and facilitating breeding interventions. This review critically synthesizes existing literature on floral morphology, anthesis behavior, pollen biology, stigma receptivity, pollination ecology and reproductive constraints in Agave amica. Evidences indicate substantial genotypic variation in floral traits and reproductive parameters, with pollen viability ranging from negligible levels to over 95% across cultivars. Despite relatively high pollen viability in certain genotypes, seed set remains limited due to gametophytic self-incompatibility and late acting ovarian incompatibility. Anthesis occurs predominantly in the evening, synchronized with peak fragrance emission and pollinator activity. However, temporal asynchrony between pollen viability and stigma receptivity reduces fertilization success. This review highlights critical gaps in understanding pollination ecology and reproductive mechanisms and emphasizes the need for integrative approaches to enhance breeding efficiency and genetic improvement in tuberose.