TY - JOUR
T1 - Pollination ecology of Polylepis Tomentella (Rosaceae), an andean anemophilous tree presenting a potential floral fungal infection
AU - Domic, Alejandra I.
AU - Bernhard, Peter
AU - Edens-Meier, Retha
AU - Camilo, Gerardo R.
AU - Capriles, José M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Fieldwork and laboratory work were possible through the logistic support of S. Beck, R. I. Meneses, M. Serrano, D. Bogler, Herbario Nacional de Bolivia, Herbario del Sur, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. We thank A. Palabral, C. Campos, E. Manani, L. Vargas, N. P. Flores Saldaña, and C. Zambrana-Torrelio for their assistance during field data collection. Comments from T. Knight, A. Miller, J. Knouft, W. Carson, M. Black-well, A. Maldonado, and Douglas J. Kennett substantially helped to improve the manuscript. We acknowledge funding from the International Foundation for Science (D/4839), Idea Wild, Saint Louis University’s Brennan Summer Fellowship, a Beaumont Faculty Development Award, and FONDECYT grant 3160443.
PY - 2017/9
Y1 - 2017/9
N2 - Premise of research. Anemophily is considered to be a mechanism that evolved to promote pollination success. However, reproductive output can decrease if pollen loads are scarce due to low abundance of compatible mates or floral infections. Here we analyze the effects of breeding system, pollen limitation, and a potential floral fungal infection on the reproductive output of the Andean tree Polylepis tomentella (Rosaceae). Methodology. We performed pollen supplementation experiments in the field to assess the extent of the effect of pollen limitation on fruit and seed set and to identify any pre-or postzygotic self-incompatibility responses within receptive pistils. Supplementary scanning electron microscopy and epifluorescence microscopy were used to observe the possible effects of a potential floral fungal infection on sexual reproduction. Pivotal results. Pollen supplementation did not increase fruit and seed set, suggesting weak evidence of pollen limitation. Most stigmas from self-and cross-pollinated flowers showed germinated pollen grains and pollen tubes in the style, indicating that the species exhibits prezygotic self-compatibility. The presence of three Ascomycota genera in stigmas and styles appears to have negatively affected the germination of pollen grains by inhibiting pollen tube growth, but we did not find evidence suggesting that hyphae are able to penetrate the ovary. Conclusions. This study showed that P. tomentella possesses a prezygotic self-compatible system and that fruit and seed set are not affected by pollen limitation. Therefore, reproductive assurance is achieved through pollen transfer between plants by wind and the role played by self-compatibility that allows selfing in the species. However, it is possible that the potential fungal infection could reduce the fecundity of its tree host, as hyphae are able to penetrate pollen grains.
AB - Premise of research. Anemophily is considered to be a mechanism that evolved to promote pollination success. However, reproductive output can decrease if pollen loads are scarce due to low abundance of compatible mates or floral infections. Here we analyze the effects of breeding system, pollen limitation, and a potential floral fungal infection on the reproductive output of the Andean tree Polylepis tomentella (Rosaceae). Methodology. We performed pollen supplementation experiments in the field to assess the extent of the effect of pollen limitation on fruit and seed set and to identify any pre-or postzygotic self-incompatibility responses within receptive pistils. Supplementary scanning electron microscopy and epifluorescence microscopy were used to observe the possible effects of a potential floral fungal infection on sexual reproduction. Pivotal results. Pollen supplementation did not increase fruit and seed set, suggesting weak evidence of pollen limitation. Most stigmas from self-and cross-pollinated flowers showed germinated pollen grains and pollen tubes in the style, indicating that the species exhibits prezygotic self-compatibility. The presence of three Ascomycota genera in stigmas and styles appears to have negatively affected the germination of pollen grains by inhibiting pollen tube growth, but we did not find evidence suggesting that hyphae are able to penetrate the ovary. Conclusions. This study showed that P. tomentella possesses a prezygotic self-compatible system and that fruit and seed set are not affected by pollen limitation. Therefore, reproductive assurance is achieved through pollen transfer between plants by wind and the role played by self-compatibility that allows selfing in the species. However, it is possible that the potential fungal infection could reduce the fecundity of its tree host, as hyphae are able to penetrate pollen grains.
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U2 - 10.1086/692504
DO - 10.1086/692504
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85029524857
SN - 1058-5893
VL - 178
SP - 512
EP - 521
JO - International journal of plant sciences
JF - International journal of plant sciences
IS - 7
ER -