Pollination biology of Syngonanthus elegans (Eriocaulaceae - Poales)

Studies on the pollination biology of Eriocaulaceae are scarce although particularly interesting because of its inclusion in the Poales, a predominantly wind-pollinated order. The pollination biology of Syngonanthus elegans (Bong.) Ruhland was studied during two annual flowering periods to test the hypothesis that insect pollination was its primary pollination system. A field study was carried out, including observations of the morphology and biology of the flowers, insect visits and pollinator behaviour. We also evaluated seed set, seed germination and seedling development for different pollination modes. Although seeds were produced by self-pollination, pollination by small insects contributed most effectively to the reproductive success of S. elegans, resulting in the greatest seed set, with the highest germination percentage and optimum seedling vigour. The. oral resources used by flower visitors were pollen and nectar that was produced by staminate and pistillate flowers. Self-pollination played a minor role and its consequence was inbreeding depression.

The Pollination Biology and Mating System of a Peripheral Population of Witheringia solanacea (Solanaceae)

Pollinator visitation rates over the life of a flower are determined by pollinator abundance and floral longevity. If flowers are not visited frequently enough, pollen limitation may occur, favoring the evolution of self-compatibility (SC). In plant species with varying SC levels, central populations often are self-incompatible (SI) and peripheral populations are SC. Witheringia solanacea (Solanaceae) is a species that follows this trend with the exception of one population in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which is peripheral yet SI. I investigated this population using multiple techniques including floral bagging, pollinator observations, microsatellite analysis, and floral longevity manipulations. My results confirmed the self-incompatibility of the Monteverde population and indicated low but perhaps adequate rates of pollinator visitation per flower per hour. I found reduced genetic diversity at Monteverde and gene flow occurring unidirectionally from San Luis (a central population) to Monteverde. In the greenhouse, there was more of an effect of male than female function on floral longevity, but the largest differences were environmental. Flowers stayed open substantially longer when cool, cloudy weather was simulated and shorter when conditions were hot and sunny. The results indicate that the Monteverde population of W. solanacea is SI because 1) it is unable to maximize its fitness due to gene flow from San Luis and its relatively recent colonization of the area and 2) pollen limitation may not be severe because of supplemental pollinator availability from other Witheringia species in the area and increased floral longevities due to cool and cloudy conditions.

Pollination Biology of Jacaranda oxyphylla with an Emphasis on Staminode Function

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Pollination biology of Syngonanthus elegans (Eriocaulaceae - Poales)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Reproductive biology of six Brazilian Myrtaceae: is there a syndrome associated with buzz-pollination?

The floral phenology and reproductive biology of six sympatric arboreal Myrtaceae species were studied in the coastal plain forest (Ubatuba, Brazil, 44 degrees 48`W 23 degrees 22`S), from September 1999 to April 2002. Flowering started in the transition from the driest to the most humid season (Sep/Oct) and lasted until March. The sequence with which the species flowered each year was consistently the same. However, the timing of flowering onset, peak, end, and overlap differed from one year to another. Myrtaceae species were classified as xenogamic according to the pollen:ovule ratios, but two of them seem to present some degree of self-compatibility. Flowers of all species opened at sunrise and lasted for I day. Bombus morio (Apidae: Bombini) was the most common visitor followed by Melipona rufiventris (Apidae: Meliponini). Buzz pollination in Myrtaceae was common at the study area and seems to be related to bees` behaviour and to some aspects of flowers` morphology.

Pollination ecology of the Cerrado species Eschweilera nana (Lecythidaceae subfam. Lecythidoideae)

Eschweilera nana is pollinated by a guild of pollinators consisting of mostly bees. Effective pollinators are large bees able to force their way into the closed androecium to access nectar. The morphology of the flowers diminishes self pollination and promotes cross-pollination. Although many pollinators make diurnal visits to the flowers, fruit set was very low in comparison with the number of flowers produced. Breeding system tests yielded only two fruits, one produced by xenogamy and another one in the control test. The results of this study are consistent with studies of other Cerrado plants pollinated by guilds of insects and support the conclusion of other pollination studies of Lecythidaceae that fruit set is low in comparison with the high numbers of flowers produced. © 2013 The New York Botanical Garden.

Pollination systems in Pogonieae (Orchidaceae: Vanilloideae): A hypothesis of evolution among reward and rewardless flowers

The tribe Pogonieae of Vanilloideae (Orchidaceae) consists of six genera, including Pogoniopsis, a mycoheterotrophic taxon with morphological characteristics distinct from the remaining of the tribe. A hypothesis about the phylogeny of the tribe was inferred, involving all currently recognized genera, based on isolated and combined sequence data of 5.8S, 18S and 26S (nrDNA) regions using parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Phylogenetic analyses show that inclusion of Pogoniopsis turns the tribe Pogonieae paraphyletic. All analyses reveal that Pogoniopsis is closely related to members of Epidendroideae. The pantropical Vanilla is monophyletic if Dictyophyllaria is assumed as synonym of Vanilla. Members of Pogonieae are pollinated by several groups of solitary and social bees, two pollination systems being recognized: reward-producing and deceptive. The molecular phylogeny suggests that ancestrals related to Pogonieae gave rise to two evolutionary lines: a tropical one with reward production of flowers, and a predominantly temperate regions invading line with deceptive flowers. Reward-producing flowers characterize the South and Central American clade (=Cleistes), while deceptive pollination is prominent in the clade that includes North American-Asiatic taxa plus the Amazonian genus Duckeella. (C) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Pollination, Herbivory, and Habitat Fragmentation: Their Effects on the Reproductive Fitness of Angadenia berteroi, a Native Perennial Plant of the South Florida Pine Rocklands

Angadenia berteroi is a tropical perennial subshrub of the pine rocklands with large yellow flowers that set very few fruits. My dissertation seeks to elucidate the factors that affect the reproductive fitness of Angadenia berteroi a native species of the south Florida pine rocklands. I provide novel information on the pollination biology of this native species. I also assess the effects of herbivory on growth and the reproductive success of A. berteroi. Finally, I elucidate how habitat fragmentation and quality are correlated with reproductive fitness of this native perennial plant. Using a novel experimental approach, I determined the most effective pollinator group. I used nylon fishing line of widths corresponding to proboscis diameter of the major groups of visitors to examine pollen removal and deposition. In the field, I estimated visitation frequency and efficacy of each pollinator type. Using potted plants, I exposed flowers to single visit from different types of pollinators to measure fruit set. I performed artificial defoliation with scissors on plants growing in the greenhouse to assess the effects of defoliation before flowering as well as during flowering. Additionally, I used structural equation modelling (SEM) to elucidate how A. berteroi reproductive fitness was affected by habitat fragmentation and quality. My experiments provide evidence that Angadenia berteroi is specialized for bee pollination; though butterflies, skippers and others also visit its flowers, A. berteroi is exclusively pollinated by two native bees of the South Florida pine rocklands . This research also demonstrated that herbivory by the oleander moth may have direct and indirect effects on Angadenia berteroi growth and reproductive success. The SEM results suggested that habitat quality (litter depth and subcanopy cover) may favor reproduction in native species of the South Florida pine rocklands that are properly maintained by periodic fires and exotic control. Insights from this threatened and charismatic species may provide impetus to properly manage remaining pine rocklands in South Florida for this and other endemic understory species.

Pollination, herbivory, and habitat fragmentation: Their effects on the reproductive fitness of Angadenia berteroi, a native perennial plant of the south Florida pine rocklands

Angadenia berteroi is a tropical perennial subshrub of the pine rocklands with large yellow flowers that set very few fruits. My dissertation seeks to elucidate the factors that affect the reproductive fitness of Angadenia berteroi a native species of the south Florida pine rocklands. I provide novel information on the pollination biology of this native species. I also assess the effects of herbivory on growth and the reproductive success of A. berteroi. Finally, I elucidate how habitat fragmentation and quality are correlated with reproductive fitness of this native perennial plant.^ Using a novel experimental approach, I determined the most effective pollinator group. I used nylon fishing line of widths corresponding to proboscis diameter of the major groups of visitors to examine pollen removal and deposition. In the field, I estimated visitation frequency and efficacy of each pollinator type. Using potted plants, I exposed flowers to single visit from different types of pollinators to measure fruit set. I performed artificial defoliation with scissors on plants growing in the greenhouse to assess the effects of defoliation before flowering as well as during flowering. Additionally, I used structural equation modelling (SEM) to elucidate how A. berteroi reproductive fitness was affected by habitat fragmentation and quality. ^ My experiments provide evidence that Angadenia berteroi is specialized for bee pollination; though butterflies, skippers and others also visit its flowers, A. berteroi is exclusively pollinated by two native bees of the South Florida pine rocklands . This research also demonstrated that herbivory by the oleander moth may have direct and indirect effects on Angadenia berteroi growth and reproductive success. The SEM results suggested that habitat quality (litter depth and subcanopy cover) may favor reproduction in native species of the South Florida pine rocklands that are properly maintained by periodic fires and exotic control. Insights from this threatened and charismatic species may provide impetus to properly manage remaining pine rocklands in South Florida for this and other endemic understory species.^

石荠苎属的系统学与进化

石荠苎属(Mosla (Benth.) Buch.-Hamilt. ex Maxim.)是唇形科的一个小属，仅分布于东亚，该属复杂的变异式样一直困扰着系统学家．本论文是对该属进行三年物种生物学研究的结果．本研究从居群生物学出发，在广泛的野外调查后选取了47个居群进行取样和观察，在控制环境因素的实验设计条件下，测量了31个居群53个形态性状并分析了其变异规律;在扫描电镜下观察了含外类群在内的6属38个居群的花粉和小坚果表面微形态：对27个居群做了细胞学研究：对22个居群15个酶系统做了等位酶分析，获得了28个位点的资料;进行了35个组合的796次人工杂交．综合上述各方面资料的分析结果，对石荠苎属的形态变异与进化、居群分化、生殖隔离、物种形成、类群划分，以及起源和扩展作了详细的分析和讨论． 形态特征的数量遗传学分析表明，叶片大小和形状、苞片形态、花序（果序）和花萼（果期花萼）的复杂变异式样是造成分类混乱的主要原因．叶片大小和形状在小鱼仙草(M. dianthera)中呈现幅度很宽的连续变异，极端情况常分别被描述为不同的种，如M．remottllora和M．grosseserrata．少数突变体以及种间偶尔产生的杂交个体在苞片和花序形态上表现异常，都曾引起分类的混乱．本研究已经澄清M. bracteata和M. tamdaoensis是突变体，而M. exfoliata和M. longispica则是种间杂种．M.fomosana花萼上唇裂片长度的变异是导致分类困难的另一个原因，是小鱼仙草花萼上唇中裂片变异的极端类型。 通过比较分析揭示了石荠苎属中苞片形状、花序结构、花朵大小、花萼形态、小坚果和花粉粒表面纹饰以及染色体的变异和演化趋势，苞片由发达的叶状类型向披针形方向演化;花序由花朵疏离的松散状向紧缩的头状类型演化;花萼由近辐射对称，五个裂片近等长向二唇形演化;花冠由发达、鲜艳向退化方向演化：小坚果由具旋涡状深雕纹向具网纹类型演化;花粉粒由无明显突起向有明显条文或块状突起的类型演化;核型由不对称性小向不对称性增强发展;繁育系统由以异交为主向以自交为主演化，并且带动一系列花部形态的相关变异． 等位酶分析结果表明，石荠苎属种内的进化以遗传变异的积累和繁育系统的转变造成的居群间分化为主要特征．杭州石荠苎各居群的平均遗传距离为0.026，聚类分析结果发现7个居群明显分化为两支，居群3704，4704和3712为一支，其他居群为一支，等位酶资料获得的结果也得到形态和生殖特征的支持．3704、4704和3712在毛被、花朵大小、小坚果大小和颜色在均与其他居群有差异，繁育系统上，这三个居群表现出更明显的异交特性．小鱼仙草居群之间遗传分化甚至大于少数亲缘种之间的遗传分化，平均遗传距离达到0.034，但杂交实验发现，居群之间并不存在生殖隔离，不同的居群之间在叶片大小、叶形、苞片长短和花萼上唇中裂片的长短也有所不同．杭州石荠苎和小鱼仙草种内居群之间的形态和等位酶分化说明居群之问正处于分化和物种形成的早期阶段，生殖隔离还没有建立。 突变（包括染色体结构变异）的积累和繁育系统的转变是石荠苎属物种形成的基础，苏州石荠苎和石荠苎的分化是由于染色体结构变异的积累，具体表现在核型不对称性上的差异，造成生殖隔离．另一些比较明显的物种形成机制为：染色体多倍化，形成M.pauciflora;染色体结构变异，如随体染色体的臂间易位，产生M.cavaleriei;繁育系统由异交转变为自交产生M．chinensis．另外，在物种形成过程中，花期和生态位分化等促进了生殖隔离的完善． 石荠苎属形态上界限清楚，而且存在生殖隔离的种有八个，它们是小花荠苎(M.cavaleriei Levl.);石香薷 (M. chinensis Maxim.);小鱼仙草 (M. dianthera (Buch.-Hamilt. ex Roxb.) Maxim.);杭州石荠苎(M．hangchouensis Matsuda);日本石荠苎(M. japonica (Benth.) Maxim.);疏花荠苎(M. pauciflora (C. Y. Wu) C. Y. Wu et H. W. Li);石荠苎(M. punctulata (J.F. Gmelin) Nakai)和苏州石荠苎(M. soochouensis Matsuda). 石荠苎属的近缘属是香薷属(Elsholtzia)、香简草属(Keiskea)和紫苏属(Perilla)。石荠苎属与近缘属的分化大约在260万年之前，因为那时石荠苎属的祖先就发生了分化，形成以杭州石荠苎一一石香薷的祖先和以小花荠苎一一小鱼仙草的祖先为代表的两条进化主线，从香薷属和香简草属的现代分布式样-以及石荠苎属的分布特点推断，华东地区可能是石荠苎属的起源和演化的舞台，华东地区具有最大的种类多样性、变异性、特有性和多度．