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POLLEN TUBE COMPETITION AND SELECTION FOR METAL TOLERANCE IN SILENE DIOICA (CARYOPHYLLACEAE) AND MIMULUS GUTTATUS (SCROPHULARIACEAE)
Author(s) -
Searcy Karen B.,
Mulcahy David L.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1985.tb08440.x
Subject(s) - biology , pollen , pollen tube , caryophyllaceae , botany , scrophulariaceae , pollination
An experiment was conducted to test whether metal tolerance expressed in pollen would provide a competitive advantage during pollen tube growth and fertilization. Copper or zinc was introduced into the pistil by growing metal tolerant plants of Silene dioica or Mimulus guttatus in a nutrient solution to which metals were added. Flowers from treated and control plants were pollinated with either metal tolerant or metal sensitive pollen. The rate of pollen tube growth, the number of seeds set, and the number of viable seeds produced were measured. In general, no effects were found on the rates of pollen tube growth. However, the number of fertilizations and viable seeds were affected. When toxic metals were present, the relative success of pollen from the nontolerant parent was reduced.