Polymorphism, Outcrossing and Polyploidy in Bromus diandrus and B. rigidus

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 609 ◽  
Author(s):  
KF Kon ◽  
WM Blacklow

The genetic systems of Brornus diandrus Roth (great brome) and B. rigidus Roth (rigid brome) were studied in 30 populations sampled from Western Australia. Populations of B. diandrus were polymorphic and the dominant phenotype had scabrid lemmas and glabrous paleas. Polymorphs of B. rigidus had short and long awns with flat seeds and long awns with round seeds: all these phenotypes had scabrid lemmas and hairy paleas. Frequencies of the polymorphs varied between sites and years. Palea hairiness of B. diandrus is controlled by a single, dominant gene and was used as a marker gene for estimations of outcrossing frequencies and population homozygosis. B. diandrus is self-compatible and inbreeding with outcrossing frequencies less than 1%. Florets of both species were facultatively cleistogamous; there were high levels of chasmogamy in irrigated populations but most anthers had dehisced prior to exsertion. The high proportion of seed set in cleistogamous florets and similar floral biology suggested that the breeding system of B. rigidus was similar to that of B. diandrus. There was no evidence of species hybrids in the field and attempts at hybridisation failed. Populations of these species were homozygotic for a few major genotypes. Meiotic chromosomes of both species and all biotypes formed mainly bivalents and a few quadrivalents at metaphase I. This, together with the high proportion (Ͱ5 98%) of fertile pollen grains and the 3 : 1 segregation of hairy: glabrous paleas in selfed F2 progenies, indicated that inheritance in these species was disomic. The genomic formula proposed for B. diandrus is either AABBCCDD or AAAABBCC. The properties of polymorphism, autogamy and disomic inheritance within polyploidy would favour the development of tolerance to herbicides within populations, provided selected genotypes were competitive.

1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 569-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. YEUNG ◽  
E. N. LARTER

A study of the pollen production properties of three hexaploid triticale strains (Triticale hexaploide Lart.) showed that their anther length was significantly greater than that of wheat anthers (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.) and the estimated number of pollen grains per anther ranged from 15,000 to 21,000. In comparison, a total of 8000 grains per anther was estimated for wheat, cult Manitou. Eighty-nine percent anther extrusion occurred in triticale cult Rosner, while Manitou averaged 70% anther extrusion. The period of anthesis of triticale varied according to strain but generally was of longer duration than in Manitou and thereby promoted outcrossing. Using a triticale strain carrying a dominant marker gene, 50% seed-set was obtained at a distance of 12 m leeward of the pollen source; however, a small percentage was still obtained at a distance of 30 m. It would appear from the limited number of triticales used in this study that a wide range of variability exists within this species in its pollen production and disseminating properties. With appropriate selection pressures, strains with an outbreeding habit could be developed for the purpose of hybrid seed production.


1993 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogério Gribel ◽  
John D. Hay

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.


1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholi Vorsa ◽  
E. T. Bingham

Four diploid (2x) clones of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., which produced good seed set when used as male parents in 4x-2x crosses were selected for study. The 2x clones descended from 2x haploids of cultivated 4x alfalfa. Fertility in the 4x-2x cross was due to the production of pollen with the unreduced chromosome number (2n pollen) from the 2x parent. The cytological mechanism of 2n pollen formation was found to be disorientation of spindles at metaphase II in up to 38% of the pollen mother cells. Thus, both n and 2n pollen were produced by all four diploids examined. Normal spindles at metaphase II were oriented such that they defined the poles of a tetrahedron and resulted in normal tetrads in a tetrahedral arrangement. Disoriented spindles were basically parallel to each other and resulted in formation of dyads and occasionally a triad. Dyads developed into two 2n pollen grains; triads developed into one 2n and two n pollen grains. Since both n and 2n pollen grains are produced by the diploids, they can be maintained as diploids or they can be used as male parents in crosses to tetraploids. The genetic constitution of 2n pollen resulting from parallel spindles is similar to that expected after first division restitution of meiosis and much of the heterozygosity of the diploid parent is conserved in the gametes. The 2n gamete mechanism has potential application in germplasm transfer and in maximizing heterozygosity in tetraploid hybrids.


Web Ecology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Giovanetti ◽  
Margarida Ramos ◽  
Cristina Máguas

Abstract. Acacia longifolia, a native legume from Australia, has been introduced in many European countries and elsewhere, thus becoming one of the most important global invasive species. In Europe, its flowering occurs in a period unsuitable for insect activity: nonetheless it is considered entomophilous. Floral traits of this species are puzzling: brightly coloured and scented as liked by insects, but with abundant staminate small-sized flowers and relatively small pollen grains, as it is common in anemophilous species. Invasion processes are especially favoured when reshaping local ecological networks, thus the interest in understanding pollination syndromes associated with invasive plant species that may facilitate invasiveness. Moreover, a striking difference exists between its massive flowering and relatively poor seed set. We introduced a novel approach: first, we consider the possibility that a part of the pollination success is carried on by wind and, second, we weighted the ethological perspective of the main pollinator. During the flowering season of A. longifolia (February–April 2016), we carried on exclusion experiments to detect the relative contribution of insects and wind. While the exclusion experiments corroborated the need for pollen vectors, we actually recorded a low abundance of insects. The honeybee, known pollinator of acacias, was relatively rare and not always productive in terms of successful visits. While wind contributed to seed set, focal observations confirmed that honeybees transfer pollen when visiting both the inflorescences to collect pollen and the extrafloral nectaries to collect nectar. The mixed pollination strategy of A. longifolia may then be the basis of its success in invading Portugal's windy coasts.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 2480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernán Salinas-Grenet ◽  
Ariel Herrera-Vásquez ◽  
Samuel Parra ◽  
Allan Cortez ◽  
Lilian Gutiérrez ◽  
...  

Auxin regulates diverse aspects of flower development in plants, such as differentiation of the apical meristem, elongation of the stamen, and maturation of anthers and pollen. It is known that auxin accumulates in pollen, but little information regarding the biological relevance of auxin in this tissue at different times of development is available. In this work, we manipulated the amount of free auxin specifically in developing pollen, using transgenic Arabidopsis lines that express the bacterial indole-3-acetic acid-lysine synthetase (iaaL) gene driven by a collection of pollen-specific promoters. The iaaL gene codes for an indole-3-acetic acid-lysine synthetase that catalyzes the conversion of free auxin into inactive indole-3-acetyl-l-lysine. The transgenic lines showed several abnormalities, including the absence of short stamina, a diminished seed set, aberrant pollen tubes, and perturbations in the synchronization of anther dehiscence and stamina development. This article describes the importance of auxin accumulation in pollen and its role in stamina and anther development.


2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 686-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana de Oliveira Machado ◽  
Ana Palmira Silva ◽  
Helder Consolaro ◽  
Mariluza A. Granja e Barros ◽  
Paulo Eugênio Oliveira

Distyly is a floral polymorphism more common among the Rubiaceae than in any other angiosperm group. Palicourea rigida is a typically distylous species of the Rubiaceae widely distributed in the Brazilian Cerrados. This work aimed to study the floral biology and breeding system of P. rigida in order to verify if there wasasymmetry between floral morphs. The work was carried out at Fazenda Água Limpa, Brasília-DF, from 1993 to 1995; and at Serra Caldas Novas State Park-Goias and in Clube Caça e Pesca Itororó de Uberlândia-Minas Gerais in 2005 and 2006. Density, height and pin/thrum ratio were assessed for flowering individuals in all areas. Plants were investigated for differences in floral morphology, nectar production, reproductive success and site of self incompatibility reactions. Blooming period was long and concentrated during the rains. Flowers were clearly distylous and with reciprocal herkogamy. They produced nectar and lasted for a single day. In spite of differences in density and height, populations were mostly isoplethic. Nectar production varied in volume and concentration but the differences could not be associated with floral morphs. The species is self-incompatible but reproductive success was always high and independent of floral morphs. There were differences in the site of incompatibility barriers between floral morphs, which were similar to those observed for other Rubiaceae. The main floral visitors and pollinators were the hummingbirds Colibri serrirostris and Eupetomena macroura. High fruit-set indicates that the pollinators transported enough compatible pollen grains between floral morphs, despite their territorial behavior.


1971 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Lesins

Colchicine treatment of hybrids from the interspecific cross Medicago pironae Vis. × M. daghestanica Rupr. induced the formation of three tetraploid shoots, one with 2n = 29 and two with 2n = 32, in their somatic nuclei. Their flowers had 21, 44 and 62% plasma-filled pollen, respectively. No seed was obtained from these tetraploids after selfing and intercrossing more than 1,200 flowers, indicating the presence of a built-in fertility barrier between the two species.By applying pollen from the tetraploid hybrids to alfalfa (M. sativn L.) two trispecies hybrids with 2n = 34 and 30 chromosomcs were produced. The first had 32%, the second 22% plasma-filled pollen grains. On backcrossing to M. sativa, a higher seed set was obtained with pollen from the 2n = 34 plant than from the 2n = 30 plant. Meiosis in the 2n = 30 plant was abnormal. At MI multivalents were observed, indicating that chromosomal material may be interchanged between M. pironae-daghestanica and M. sativa. Approximately half the meiocytes at AI possessed lagging chromosomes and only 6% of secondary meiocytes at AII were without disturbances.


2020 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Delnevo ◽  
Eddie J van Etten ◽  
Nicola Clemente ◽  
Luna Fogu ◽  
Evelina Pavarani ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Ant–plant associations are widely diverse and distributed throughout the world, leading to antagonistic and/or mutualistic interactions. Ant pollination is a rare mutualistic association and reports of ants as effective pollinators are limited to a few studies. Conospermum (Proteaceae) is an insect-pollinated genus well represented in the south-western Australia biodiversity hotspot, and here we aimed to evaluate the role of ants as pollinators of C. undulatum. Methods Pollen germination after contact with several species of ants and bees was tested for C. undulatum and five co-flowering species for comparison. We then sampled the pollen load of floral visitors of C. undulatum to assess whether ants carried a pollen load sufficient to enable pollination. Lastly, we performed exclusion treatments to assess the relative effect of flying- and non-flying-invertebrate floral visitors on the reproduction of C. undulatum. For this, we measured the seed set under different conditions: ants exclusion, flying-insects exclusion and control. Key Results Pollen of C. undulatum, along with the other Conospermum species, had a germination rate after contact with ants of ~80 % which did not differ from the effect of bees; in contrast, the other plant species tested showed a drop in the germination rate to ~10 % following ant treatments. Although ants were generalist visitors, they carried a pollen load with 68–86 % of suitable grains. Moreover, ants significantly contributed to the seed set of C. undulatum. Conclusions Our study highlights the complexity of ant–flower interactions and suggests that generalizations neglecting the importance of ants as pollinators cannot be made. Conospermum undulatum has evolved pollen with resistance to the negative effect of ant secretions on pollen grains, with ants providing effective pollination services to this threatened species.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Wang ◽  
Feng-Jiao Zhang ◽  
Fa-Di Chen ◽  
Wei-Min Fang ◽  
Nian-Jun Teng

There has been a heated argument over self-incompatibilityof chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) among chrysanthemum breeders. In order to solve the argument, we investigated pistil receptivity, seed set, and compatible index of 24 chrysanthemum cultivars. It was found that the 24 cultivars averagely had 3.7–36.3 pollen grains germinating on stigmas at 24 hours after self-pollination through the fluorescence microscope using aniline blue staining method. However, only 10 of them produced self-pollinated seeds, and their seed sets and compatible indexes were 0.03–56.50% and 0.04–87.50, respectively. The cultivar “Q10-33-1” had the highest seed set (56.50%) and compatible index (87.50), but ten of its progeny had a wide range of separation in seed set (0–37.23%) and compatible index (0–68.65). The results indicated that most of chrysanthemum cultivars were self-incompatible, while a small proportion of cultivars were self-compatible. In addition, there is a comprehensive separation of self-incompatibility among progeny from the same self-pollinated self-compatible chrysanthemum cultivar. Therefore, it is better to emasculate inflorescences during chrysanthemum hybridization breeding when no information concerning its self-incompatibility characteristics is available. However, if it is self-incompatible and propagated by vegetative methods, it is unnecessary to carry out emasculation when it is used as a female plant during hybridization breeding.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 1298-1303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel S. Shore ◽  
Spencer C. H. Barrett

Controlled pollination experiments were performed on the self-incompatible distylous herb Turnera ulmifolia L. to investigate the effects of pollination intensity and large amounts of incompatible pollen on seed set. In the first experiment, known numbers of compatible pollen grains ranging from 1 to 100 were applied to stigmas of the floral morphs. In both morphs, increasing amounts of pollen generally resulted in increased levels of seed set, although considerable variance was observed at all pollination intensities. Approximately two to seven pollen grains are required to produce a single seed and more than 95 grains are required to achieve maximum seed set in T. ulmifolia. Regression analysis of the seed set data failed to detect a difference in the response of the floral morphs to pollination intensity. In the second experiment, known proportions of compatible and incompatible pollen were applied to stigmas at various time intervals. Most treatments involving mixtures of compatible and incompatible pollen had no significant effect on seed set when compared with the controls. Clogging was only observed in the long-styled morph when one anther of compatible pollen was applied to stigmas 1.5 and 3.0 h after pollination with five anthers of incompatible pollen. The clogging of stigmas by incompatible pollen seems unlikely to have played a major role in the evolution and maintenance of distyly in Turnera ulmifolia.


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