Reproductive biology and breeding system in Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinaceae) – implication for genetic improvement

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Zhang ◽  
C.L. Zhong ◽  
Q. Han ◽  
Q.B. Jiang ◽  
Y. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Breeding System ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Casuarina Equisetifolia ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Floral Longevity ◽  
Improvement Programs

Understanding the reproductive biology of plant species is essential for successful domestication and genetic improvement programs. Casuarina equisetifolia L. is an important plantation species in China and India but information on reproductive biology is limited. To address this issue, grafted ramets of C. equisetifolia were used to study floral biology, breeding system and progeny performance. The female floral longevity of C. equisetifolia reached 28.4 days under non-pollination conditions, which was significantly longer than that of supplementary pollination (5.5 days) and open pollination (12.2 days), implying successful pollination would accelerate senescence of female flowers. Higher fruit set (88.8%) and seed set (35.7%) under supplementary pollination were obtained, compared with 75.9% and 21.7%, respectively, under open pollination, although there were no fruit set and seed set under non-pollination conditions. Pollen limitation was evident based on pollen limitation index (0.39) in seedling plantations of C. equisetifolia. Selfed seedlings had low height and diameter growth in both nursery and field trials and markedly lower survival in field trial, indicating inbreeding depression. Microsatellite-based estimates of selfing rate of open pollinated, monoecious individuals was 42%, suggesting that monoecious C. equisetifolia individuals are self-compatible, and that the breeding system should be classified as facultative xenogamy.

Preferential outcrossing in Banksia ilicifolia (Proteaceae)

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bambang Heliyanto ◽  
Erik J. Veneklaas ◽  
Hans Lambers ◽  
Siegfried L. Krauss
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Genetic Load ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination ◽  
Hand Pollination ◽  
Self Compatibility ◽  
Non Local

The breeding system of Banksia ilicifolia was assessed by performing controlled hand-pollination manipulations on flowers in a natural population in Perth, Western Australia. The percentage of 2000 flowers per treatment converted to fruits and seeds was assessed across 24 recipient plants following (1) self-pollination, (2) local outcross pollination (same population), (3) non-local outcross pollination (pollen sourced from another population 30 km away), (4) unpollinated but bagged flowers and (5) unpollinated, unbagged flowers (natural pollination). The relative performance of the resulting seeds was assessed by seed weight, germination rates and, in an unplanned component of the study, resistance to a fungal pathogen. The percentage of flowers converted to fruits following self-pollination was low (0.9%), but demonstrated self-compatibility. Fruit set following cross-pollinations (3.6 and 3.3% for non-local and local crosses, respectively) was significantly greater than that following self-pollination, open-pollination (0.4%) and autogamous (0.04%) treatments. Low fruit set for open-pollinated flowers, compared with self- and outcross-pollination treatments, suggests pollen limitation. Pollen tubes were observed in 15 and 20% of upper styles of flowers hand-pollinated with self and local outcross pollen, respectively. Seed germination was dependent on the source of pollen, where fewer selfed seeds germinated (37%) than did both non-local and local outcrossed seeds (83 and 91%, respectively). Selfed seedlings showed poorer survival (33.3%) following fungal attack than both non-local and local outcrossed seeds (69.2 and 68.5%, respectively). Only 13% of selfed seeds survived to be 2-month-old seedlings, compared with 63% for non-local and 57% for local outcrossed seeds. Ultimately, for 2000 flowers hand-pollinated with self pollen, only three seedlings survived to an age of 16 weeks, compared with 37 and 45 seedlings for local-cross and non-local cross treatments on 2000 hand-pollinated flowers, respectively. These results indicate that in this population, B. ilicifolia is self-compatible, but preferentially outcrossing, with strong early acting inbreeding depression. Consequently, the breeding system of B. ilicifolia promotes the maintenance of genetic variation and a high genetic load.

scholarly journals Occurrence and Prevention of Delayed Autonomous Selfing in Salvia umbratica (Lamiaceae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han-Wen Xiao ◽  
Yan-Bo Huang ◽  
Yu-Hang Chang ◽  
Yun Chen ◽  
Richard J. Abbott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Flower Longevity ◽  
Plant Resources ◽  
Floral Longevity ◽  
Hand Pollination ◽  
Pollen Vector ◽  
Highly Correlated

Delayed autonomous selfing (DAS) provides reproductive assurance under conditions of pollinator and/or pollen-limitation. Few plant species have been investigated to determine if DAS is terminated when a flower is sufficiently pollinated by a pollen vector, thereby saving plant resources for other purposes. We examined this possibility in bumblebee-pollinated Salvia umbratica. We first showed that DAS resulting in high fruit set (100%) and seed set (>80%) per flower occurred in the absence of insect pollinators by means of style recurvature and was completed in 94% of flowers 72 h after they opened. In contrast, in flowers pollinated immediately after opening, DAS was prevented by corollas dropping away before styles recurve toward the upper thecae. We next showed that hand-pollination of flowers immediately after they opened resulted in high fruit set (100%) and seed set (>80%) when 5–10 pollen grains or more were deposited on their stigmas, whereas fruit set and seed set were reduced to 45.00 and 22.50%, respectively, when pollen loads were reduced to 1–3 pollen grains. Finally, we showed that on average single pollinator visits deposited 26 pollen grains on stigmas of flowers that had just opened, which is more than enough to ensure high fruit and seed set. Our results indicate that flower longevity is highly correlated with the pollinator environment and female fitness of S. umbratica, with extended flower longevity allowing DAS to occur being advantageous when pollinators are absent, while reduced floral longevity and prevention of DAS being favored when flowers are pollinated by pollinators. Thus, flower longevity in S. umbratica varies so as to optimize reproductive output and resource efforts, and is dependent on the availability and effectiveness of pollinators to pollinate flowers.

Pollination ecology of Caryocar brasiliense (Caryocaraceae) in Central Brazil cerrado vegetation

1993 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogério Gribel ◽  
John D. Hay
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Floral Biology ◽  
Cerrado Vegetation ◽  
Central Brazil ◽  
Glossophaga Soricina ◽  
Caryocar Brasiliense ◽  
Anoura Geoffroyi ◽  
Phyllostomus Discolor

ABSTRACTThe floral biology, breeding system and pollination of Caryocar brasiliense were studied in the cerrado vegetation of Central Brazil. The large, yellowish-cream, brush-like flowers are pollinated mainly by glossophagine bats (Glossophaga soricina and Anoura geoffroyi). Three non-glossophagine bats (Phyllostomus discolor, Vampyrops lineatus and Carollia perspicillata) and two short probosisced hawk moths (Erinyis ello and Pseudosphinx tetrio) may also act as occasional pollinators. Caryocar brasiliense is self-compatible although it sets significantly more fruits when crossed than when selfed. The natural fruit set (fruit/flower ratio) and seed set (seed/ovule ratio) are 3.1% and 1.0% respectively. Most of the fruits and seeds are formed through the action of the flower visitors, despite the fact that about 20% of the non-visited flowers receive self pollen on at least one stigma.

Pollination and Seed Set of Banksia spinulosa: Evidence for Autogamy

1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 633 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Vaughton
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Breeding System ◽  
Seed Weight ◽  
National Park ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Pollen Vectors ◽  
Specific Variation ◽  
Number Of Seeds

The breeding system of Banksia spinulosa var. neoanglica in the New England National Park was examined by excluding pollen vectors and hand pollinating inflorescences. Fruit set of xenogamous and open inflorescences was greater than geitonogamous and autogamous treatments, although not all differences were significant. No differences were found in the number of seeds per follicle or seed weight between treatments. A reduced number of follicles and smaller seeds occurred in the apical third of inflorescences in all treatments. This report of autogamous seed set contrasts with previous findings for this species and indicates intra-specific variation in the breeding system.

Breeding System and Tests for Pollen-Limitation in Two Species of Banksia

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
RL Goldingay ◽  
RJ Whelan
Keyword(s):  
Breeding System ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Floral Display ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
Self Pollination

Three factors that potentially influence fruit set (breeding system, inadequate cross-pollination and variable floral display) were examined for two species of Banksia. Firstly, self-pollination and autogamy treatments failed to produce any fruit in B. spinulosa and produced very few fruit in B. paludosa. This suggests that cross pollen is required to produce the level of fruit set observed in the field. Secondly, when plants were given abundant cross pollen, fruit set was not altered in B. spinulosa but was in B. paludosa. Although the number of follicles per inflorescence was was not different for open- pollinated (control) and manipulated B. paludosa inflorescences, the latter produced twice the proportion of inflorescences with follicles produced by control plants and twice the total number of follicles per plant. Thirdly, larger floral display in open-pollinated B. spinulosa plants was associated with a greater production of fruit. However, larger floral display was not associated with a greater reproductive output in B. paludosa, and we suggest that recurrent pollen-limitation in this species may be responsible for this result.

scholarly journals The interplay between ovule number, pollination and resources as determinants of seed set in a modular plant

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina M. Strelin ◽  
Marcelo A. Aizen
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Rubus Idaeus ◽  
Physiological Integration ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Plant Resources ◽  
Plant Seed ◽  
Ovule Number

BackgroundA classical dichotomous perspective proposes that either pollination or plant resources limit seed production. However, ovule number could also be limiting when pollination results in complete ovule fertilization and there are more plant resources available than needed to develop seeds. Moreover, this dichotomous view assumes that all flowers of a plant have equal access to a shared pool of resources, although these are frequently compartmentalized within plant modules, for example, inflorescences. How ovule number, pollination and resources affect seed production in physiologically-compartmentalized rather than physiologically-integrated plants has yet to be explored. We used raspberry (Rubus idaeus) to address this question.MethodsWe first assessed if ovule number affected the fraction of ovules that develop into seed (i.e., seed set) and whether this effect related to the extent of physiological integration among flowers within plants. This was achieved by statistically testing predictions on the sign and level of plant organization (i.e., among flowers within inflorescences, among inflorescences within ramets, and among ramets) of the relation between ovule number and seed set given different degrees of physiological integration. We then explored whether the relation between ovule number and seed set was affected by plant age (used here as a surrogate of resource availability) and pollination intensity (open-pollination vs. exclusion).ResultsWithin inflorescences, flowers with more ovules set a larger fraction of seeds. On the other hand, seed set at the inflorescence level was negatively related to the average number of ovules per flower. Seed set increased with ovule number and open-pollination, and decreased with ramet age. However, ovule number explained more variation in seed set than ramet age and pollination treatment. Ramet age affected the strength of the relation of seed set to ovule number, which was stronger in old than young ramets. Pollination did not alter the strength of this relation to any significant extent.DiscussionResults reveal the importance of ovule number as an overriding factor affecting seed set. Within inflorescences, resources appear to be differentially allocated to developing fruits from flowers with many ovules. This is consistent with the fact that in the raspberry a large proportion of the carbon invested in fruit development is fixed by the inflorescence subtending leaf. Differential resource allocation to flowers with many ovules is not affected by pollinator exclusion, being stronger in resource-exhausted ramets. This suggests that the effects of pollen limitation and resource allocation are compartmentalized at the inflorescence level. Consequently, modular plants can be viewed as reproductive mosaics where either ovule number, pollination or resources limit the number of seeds set by different flowers, so that improvements in any of them could increase plant seed production.

scholarly journals Reproductive Biology and Flowering of Feijoa (Acca sellowiana (Berg) Burret) in Areas of Marginal Occurrence

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
Joel Donazzolo ◽  
Eliza Luana Charneski Turra ◽  
Larissa Corradi Voss ◽  
Moeses Andrigo Danner ◽  
Idemir Citadin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Pollen Viability ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Flowering Phenology ◽  
Flowering Period ◽  
Self Incompatibility ◽  
Open Pollination ◽  
Species Occurrence ◽  
Acca Sellowiana

Studies of feijoa adaptability in different locations, with specific weather conditions can be useful for the cultivation of the species. The objective of this work was to study aspects of reproductive biology (pollen viability and fruit set under different methods of pollination) and flowering phenology of feijoa in regions of marginal species occurrence. Progenies of five different crosses were evaluated in 2011 in Pato Branco and Dois Vizinhos, Paraná, Brazil. Effective fruit set was low with manual self-pollination and open pollination, but was higher with manual cross-pollination, demonstrating a lack of pollinators or even self-incompatibility in some progenies. For both sites, pollen viability was extremely low and atypical for the species. The flowering period of feijoa started earlier and was extended in these marginal regions. Manual pollination is required for a good fruit set.

scholarly journals Breeding system and pollen limitation in two supergeneralist alien plants invading Mediterranean shrublands

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignasi Bartomeus ◽  
Montserrat Vilà
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Plants ◽  
Breeding System ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Pollen Limitation ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Mediterranean Shrublands ◽  
Hand Pollination ◽  
Hybrid Introgression ◽  
Low Efficiency

Many widely known invasive plants are well integrated into native plant–pollinator networks. Typically, these invaders have entomophilous flowers which are visited by a diverse array of pollinators. The type of breeding system and the role that pollination services play in the reproductive success of invasive plants have, however, received little attention. We studied the breeding system and pollen limitation of two entomophilous invasive plants, Carpobrotus affine acinaciformis and Opuntia stricta, in different Mediterranean coastal localities in north-eastern Spain. Both species are, to some degree self-compatible; however, because of frequent visitation, open pollination increased the seed set in both species by at least 50%. Whereas O. stricta showed no pollen limitation, some populations of C. aff. acinaciformis had a lower seed set in open-pollinated flowers than in flowers where supplementary hand-pollination ensured out-crossing. This local pollen limitation in C. aff. acinaciformis could be due to the low efficiency of its visitors (mainly beetles) or its hybrid status. On the basis of previous studies on Carpobrotus sp. hybrid complexes, we suggest that the variability among sites in the seed set of open-pollinated flowers is caused by different degrees of hybrid introgression. Not withstanding, we found the C. aff. acinaciformis seed sets studied were higher than those reported in other regions. Further research is needed to assess the invasion potential of these hybrids in Mediterranean shrublands.

The comparative reproductive biology of three Leucospermum species (Proteaceae) in relation to fire responses and breeding system

1985 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Lamont
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Breeding System ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
Sugar Concentration ◽  
Self Incompatibility ◽  
Nectar Volume ◽  
Cultivated Populations ◽  
Ecological Range

A study was made of both natural and cultivated populations of the resprouter after fire, Leucospermum cuneiforme, and two non-sprouters, L. cordifolium and L. erubescens. Measurements included florets per head, heads per plant (on an absolute and volume basis), nectar volume and sugar concentration, seeds per head and seed set following bagging to prevent access to pollinators. The results provided almost no support for the hypothesis that, in comparison with non-sprouters, resprouters minimize their reproductive effort in association with self-incompatibility. There was, however, some support for earlier proposals that the most self-compatible species (in this case, L. cuneiforme) have the widest ecological range, the greatest reproductive effort and highest percentage seed set.

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