scholarly journals Reproductive systems and post-pollination barriers between two closely related eu-bromelioids (Bromeliaceae) in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 192 (4) ◽  
pp. 828-839
Author(s):  
Brayan Paiva Cavalcante ◽  
Everton Hilo De Souza ◽  
Joseph Hill Williams ◽  
Leonardo M Versieux

Abstract The eu-bromelioid clade provides a classic example of an exceptionally rapid radiation, in which many closely related species are found in sympatry. In this respect, species cohesion may be due to the rapid evolution of strong reproductive barriers, although interspecific and intergeneric hybridization is observed in the family. The objective of this study was to characterize the breeding systems and post-pollination reproductive barriers in Wittmackia patentissima and Hohenbergia ridleyi. Previously included in Aechmea, they show an almost complete absence of pre-pollination barriers, although their recent divergence may not have allowed time for complete ecological/reproductive isolation to have evolved. In manual pollinations, both species had > 40% fruit set in self and outcross treatments, but seed set from manual self-pollinations was < 50% that of outcrosses, and spontaneous self-pollination produced fewer than three seeds per fruit. Self-pollen and pollen tubes showed no evidence of self-incompatibility, but heterospecific pollen tubes were arrested in the lower part of the style and heterospecific seed set was zero in both species. The combination of self-compatibility and strong post-pollination, pre-fertilization reproductive barriers is consistent with the involvement of breeding system reproductive barriers in allowing closely related bromeliad species to occur in sympatry.

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luise Hermanutz ◽  
David Innes ◽  
Andrew Denham ◽  
Robert Whelan

Members of the family Proteaceae have extremely low mature fruit : flower (FR : FL) ratios (range 0.001–0.163) compared with other temperate, hermaphroditic, woody perennials. Sutherland’s (1986) survey of FR : FL ratios indicated that compatibility was an important factor explaining levels of fruit set. The role of compatibility in regulating FR : FL ratios was tested in five closely related species of Grevillea (Proteaceae). Species-specific compatibility was compared using the self-compatibility index (SI = ratio of selfed fruit set to crossed fruit set) calculated at fruit initiation to minimise the confounding effect of other post-fertilisation fruit losses, such as inbreeding depression and pre-dispersal predation. Fruit : flower ratios at initiation ranged from 0.041–0.249, and at maturity 0.015–0.096. Grevillea species showed highly variable breeding systems: G. linearifolia was self-incompatible (SI = 0.003), G. sphacelata, G. mucronulata, and G. oleoides were partially self-compatible (SI = 0.07–0.28) and G. longifolia was self-compatible (SI = 0.61). Intrapopulation variability in the level of self-incompatibility was high in all species but G. linearifolia. The correlation between SI and FR: FL ratios was non-significant, indicating that compatibility has a minimal effect on fruit set in the Grevillea species studied, and that these data, together with other data on proteaceous species do not support trends observed in Sutherland’s survey. Low FR : FL ratios resulted from of a combination of pollen limitation, and high levels of flower and fruit predation.


2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. F. Houston ◽  
P. G. Ladd

Conostephium (Epacridaceae) has flowers that conform with a buzz-pollination syndrome but, unlike most plants with this form of pollination, the anthers are hidden within the corolla tube. Vibrations generated by bees grasping the apices of the corolla tubes must be transferred via short broad filaments to the anthers. The anthers do not have pores but each dehisces from the apex by a slit that elongates over the time the flowers take to senesce (up to 10 days). This may limit self-fertilisation as the stigma is receptive as soon as it appears from between the very short corolla lobes, so little pollen is released at first but later this would increase as the slit elongates. Visitation by pollinators has rarely been seen but several observations of native bees (Leioproctus and Lasioglossum) working the flowers are presented. The bees visit the nectarless flowers of Conostephium only for pollen and must forage at other kinds of flowers to obtain nectar. Pollen tubes occurred in the stigmas of most older flowers of C. pendulum, so pollen delivery does not seem to limit seed set. Despite this, the species sets few fruit. From examination of the taxonomic positions of likely buzz-pollinated taxa in the family, it appears that pollination by sonication has arisen independently several times in the Epacridaceae, with primarily two different floral configurations.


1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Ramsey ◽  
N Prakash ◽  
S Cairns

The breeding systems of disjunct tableland and coastal populations of Christmas bells were determined using hand-pollination experiments. In both populations, 90% or more of self-pollinated plants produced seeds. Tableland plants were significantly more self-fertile than coastal plants (ratio of self seed set to cross seed set: tableland, 0.55 ± 0.03; coast, 0.08 ± 0.02). Significant variation among plants for self-fertility was found in both populations. Autofertility was 1.6% or less in both populations indicating that pollen vectors are necessary for seed set. Seed set by agamospermy in both populations was less than 0.1%. Percentage seed abortion was greater in self-pollinated plants than cross-pollinated plants in both populations. In both self- and cross-pollinated plants, seed abortion was twice as great in the coastal population than in the tableland population. No evidence was found for stigmatic or stylar self-incompatibility. Self and cross pollen adhered to and germinated equally well on stigmas in both populations (72 - 77% germination). Similarly, there were no differences between pollination treatments or populations in the percentage of ovules penetrated by pollen tubes (82 - 89% penetration). When self-pollination preceded cross-pollination by 24 h or longer seed set was significantly reduced compared to flowers that were cross-pollinated only, suggesting ovules were pre-empted by self pollen tubes. Collectively these results strongly suggest that self seed set was reduced by a mechanism operating at the ovule level, such as early-acting inbreeding depression due to recessive seed-aborting genes, although incomplete late-acting self-incompatibility cannot be ruled out. For coastal plants, this ovular mechanism largely prevents selfing, indicating plants were predominantly outcrossing although most produced some self seed. For tableland plants, substantial seed set by selfing may occur under natural conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel S Weiherer ◽  
Kayla Eckardt ◽  
Peter Bernhardt

We compared the floral biology of two sympatric populations of closely related species over two seasons. In 2018, Nothoscordum bivalve (L.) Britton bloomed from April 23 to May 7 and Allium stellatum Nutt. Ex Ker Gawl bloomed from August 28 to October 4. Erect, white flowers of N. bivalve were scented and had septal nectaries. Erect, pink-purple flowers of A. stellatum had septal nectaries, no discernible scent, and a style that lengthened over the floral lifespan. Both species were pollinated by bees with the most common geometric mean of body dimensions between 2-3 mm. Most bees carried pure loads of the host plant’s pollen. Despite phenological isolation, the two herbs shared three bee species. Allium stellatum was also pollinated by the beetle Chauliognathus pensylvanicus DeGeer (Cantharidae). Tepal nyctinasty ensured mechanical self-pollination in N. bivalve. Protandry occurred in A. stellatum. In N. bivalve, the proportion of pollen tubes penetrating ovules was highest in bagged, self-pollinating flowers. However, in A. stellatum it was highest in exposed flowers and hand cross-pollinated flowers. Fruit set in N. bivalve was highest in exposed and bagged, self-pollinating flowers. In A. stellatum, fruit set was highest in both exposed and hand cross-pollinated flowers. Seed set was the same among all treatments for both species. We interpret these results as evidence that A. stellatum is a self-incompatible, obligate outcrosser. Nothoscodum bivalve is a self-compatible, obligate inbreeder employing mechanical and insect-mediated self-pollination. Outbreeding depression appears to occur in N. bivalve with a partial trend towards intraspecific cross-incompatibility.


HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 312-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra M. Reed

The objectives of this study were to evaluate self-incompatibility in Hydrangea paniculata Sieb. and H. quercifolia Bartr. and to determine optimum time for pollination of these two species. Flowers from three genotypes of each species were collected 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours after cross- and self-pollination, stained with aniline blue and observed using a fluorescence microscope. In both species, pollen germination was observed on stigmas of over half of the flowers collected 4 to 72 hours after cross- or self-pollination. Differences in pollen tube length between cross- and self-pollinated flowers were noted from 8 to 72 hours after pollination in H. paniculata and from 24 to 72 hours after pollination in H. quercifolia. By 72 hours after pollination, most self-pollen tubes had only penetrated the top third of the style but cross-pollen tubes had grown to the base of the style and entered 40% to 60% of the ovules. Stigmas of H. paniculata were receptive to pollen from anthesis to 5 days after anthesis, while stigmas of H. quercifolia were receptive from 1 to 5 days after anthesis. This study provides evidence of a gametophytic self-incompatibility system in H. paniculata and H. quercifolia. Occasional self-seed set previously observed in these species was theorized to have been due to pseudo-self compatibility.


HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 567-570
Author(s):  
Sandra M. Reed

Breeding efforts in Clethra alnifolia L., an ornamental shrub native to the Eastern U.S., are hindered by a lack of information on the reproductive behavior of this species. The objective of this study was to evaluate self-compatibility, time of stigma receptivity, and the relationship between time of pollen shed and stigma receptivity in C. alnifolia. Stigma receptivity and changes in floral morphology were monitored over a 7-day period beginning at flower opening. Pollen germination and pollen tube growth in styles were examined following self- and cross-pollinations using fluorescence microscopy. Seed set and germination were compared following self- and cross-pollinations. Anthers began to dehisce in `Hummingbird' and `Ruby Spice' the day after flowers opened, but stigmas did not become fully receptive to pollen until 2 days later. An increase in the length of pistils was observed following flower opening. Maximum elongation of pistils occurred at approximately the same time stigmas became receptive and could be utilized as an indicator of receptivity. While self-pollen tubes appeared to grow slightly slower than cross-pollen tubes, there was no indication of a self-incompatibility system acting at the stigmatic or stylar level in C. alnifolia. Self-pollinations of `Hummingbird' and `Ruby Spice' produced fewer seeds than did cross-pollinations of these cultivars. Germination of all seed obtained from this study was too poor to allow a comparison of germination rates of the self- and cross-pollinated seed. However, because a few self-progeny were obtained, emasculation is recommended when making controlled pollinations. The presence of a late acting self-incompatibility system or early-acting inbreeding depression was proposed as being responsible for the lower seed set following self-pollination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 615-639
Author(s):  
Amanda K. Broz ◽  
Patricia A. Bedinger

Pollen-pistil interactions serve as important prezygotic reproductive barriers that play a critical role in mate selection in plants. Here, we highlight recent progress toward understanding the molecular basis of pollen-pistil interactions as reproductive isolating barriers. These barriers can be active systems of pollen rejection, or they can result from a mismatch of required male and female factors. In some cases, the barriers are mechanistically linked to self-incompatibility systems, while others represent completely independent processes. Pollen-pistil reproductive barriers can act as soon as pollen is deposited on a stigma, where penetration of heterospecific pollen tubes is blocked by the stigma papillae. As pollen tubes extend, the female transmitting tissue can selectively limit growth by producing cell wall–modifying enzymes and cytotoxins that interact with the growing pollen tube. At ovules, differential pollen tube attraction and inhibition of sperm cell release can act as barriers to heterospecific pollen tubes.


HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 1040C-1040
Author(s):  
Sandra M. Reed

Clethra alnifolia, which is commonly known as summersweet, is an attractive deciduous shrub that produces fragrant flower in mid-summer. Breeding efforts are hampered by a lack of information on the reproductive behavior of this native species. The objective of this study was to evaluate self-compatibility in C. alnifolia. Pollen germination and pollen tube growth in styles were examined following self- and cross-pollinations using fluorescence microscopy. Seed set and germination were compared following self- and cross-pollinations. While self-pollen tubes appeared to grow slightly slower than cross-pollen tubes, there was no indication of a self-incompatibility system acting at the stigmatic or stylar level in C. alnifolia. Self-pollinations of `Hummingbird' and `Ruby Spice' produced fewer seeds than did cross-pollinations of these cultivars. Germination of all seed obtained from this study was too poor to allow a comparison of germination rates of the self- and cross-pollinated seed. However, because a few self-progeny were obtained, emasculation is recommended when making controlled pollinations. The presence of a late-acting self-incompatibility system or early acting inbreeding depression was proposed as being responsible for the lower seed set following self-pollination.


1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Kaul ◽  
J. L. Rouse ◽  
E. G. Williams

Early events in the embryo sac of Rhododendron kawakamii and R. retusum have been studied after compatible self-pollinations and eight interspecific crosses, using sectioned ovaries, pistil squashes, and seed-set data. Ovules of Rhododendron kawakamii and R. retusum are anatropous, unitegmic, and tenuinucellate, with a typical eight-nucleate, seven-celled embryo sac. Fertilization normally occurs 4–5 days after pollination. The zygote lays down a callose wall but remains undivided during the first 13–15 days after pollination. The primary endosperm nucleus divides soon after fertilization, and development is cellular ab initio. Crosses of R. kawakamii (♂) with R. santapaui and R. retusum and crosses of R. retusum (♂) with R. kawakamii, R. santapaui, R. ovatum, and R. tashiroi showed apparently normal fertilization in a majority of ovules entered by pollen tubes. In crosses of R. kawakamii (♂) with R. quadrasianum and Kalmia latifolia entry of pollen tubes into ovules was delayed and frequently abnormal. Apart from compatible self-pollinations of R. kawakamii an R. retusum, only the cross of R. kawakamii (♂) with R. santapaui produced healthy seedlings. Of the remaining seven interspecific crosses only three showed significant embryo development in control pistils left to mature in situ. Similarities and differences in the breeding behaviour of R. kawakamii and R. retusum are discussed with reference to their taxonomic grouping within subsection Pseudovireya.


1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse D. Ronquillo ◽  
Toshio Saisho

Gravid females of Metapenaeopsis barbata spawned in the laboratory by natural means and the larvae were reared from hatching to postlarval stage at 27·0–29·8˚C and 33·5–34·5 g kg -1 salinity. The larvae metamorphosed into first postlarvae, with a survival rate of up to 98·4%, after about 10 days following hatching and subsistence on only an algal diet of Tetraselmis tetrathele and Chaetoceros gracilis. Six naupliar stages, three protozoeal stages, three mysis stages and the first postlarval stage are described and illustrated. On the basis of morphological characteristics, larval stages of M. barbata can be distinguished from similar stages of closely related species in the family Penaeidae. As inferred from the morphology of the larval feeding apparatus, M. barbata is still a filter-feeder even at the first postlarval stage.


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