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Growth discrepancy between filament and style facilitates self‐fertilization in B randisia hancei ( P aulowniaceae)
Author(s) -
Ren YongQuan,
Xu YouPin,
Zhang Ting,
Ma YongPeng,
Marczewski Tobias
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
plant species biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.419
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1442-1984
pISSN - 0913-557X
DOI - 10.1111/1442-1984.12099
Subject(s) - pollinator , biology , selfing , pollination , stamen , pollen , human fertilization , reproductive success , botany , plant reproduction , agronomy , population , demography , sociology
Self‐pollination has been hypothesized to be beneficial in environments where pollinators are rare as it can provide reproductive assurance. This study presents evidence for an autonomous self‐fertilization mechanism in the winter flowering plant, B randisia hancei . To determine changes in the spatial separation of stigma and anthers, the length of style and stamens was recorded. Additionally, pollination treatments were carried out to test fruit‐set and seed production. Brandisia hancei is herkogamic in the early flowering stages. However, different growth rates of the filament and style lead to contact of stigma and anthers in the later stages, thereby facilitating self‐pollination. The highest seeds number is produced under an out‐crossing scenario but plants produce a considerable number of seeds even when purely selfed. Although pollinators are scarce, autonomous selfing alleviates the pollen limitation in B . hancei . Self‐fertilization in B . hancei seems to be an adaptive strategy to ensure reproduction when pollinators are scarce.