野慈姑花粉限制评估的影响因素

以野慈姑为材料,研究补充授粉的处理水平(单花、花序)和花粉质量(自花花粉、异花花粉)对花粉限制评估的影响.结果表明: 补充授粉的处理水平会造成花粉限制的程度不同(P=0.0021),单花水平的授粉会导致花朵之间的资源重新分配,从而影响结实;补充授粉的花粉质量会对结实造成影响,补充异花花粉比自花花粉能产生更多的种子(P=0.0497),且萌芽率更高(P=0.0428),表明该体系的花粉限制不是数量的限制,而是优质花粉的限制.不同的试验水平和花粉质量可能对花粉限制的评估造成影响,相关研究应尽量对整个花序或者植株进行补充授粉,材料允许时还应考虑自异花粉的对比试验,有利于更客观地认识和检测花粉限制.     

华北驼绒藜自然种群结实的花粉和资源限制

运用人工授粉、补充无机营养、去叶处理以及疏花处理研究了华北驼绒藜自然种群花粉和资源有效性对结实的影响,并进一步探讨了该植物的选择性败育现象和繁殖对策。结果表明:花粉来源而不是花粉数量对华北驼绒藜结实存在显著影响;同枝授粉结籽率和结实率均低于自然授粉,异株授粉则显著高于同枝授粉和自然授粉;异株授粉种子千粒重显著高于自然授粉和同株异枝授粉,极显著高于同枝授粉。华北驼绒藜结实存在资源限制,补充施肥提高了单枝开花数和结籽率。随摘除叶片数量的增加,结籽率明显降低,摘除叶片处理与对照之间均形成显著差异,摘除1/2叶、3/4叶以及去全叶处理使种子千粒重显著低于对照。人工疏花实验表明华北驼绒藜存在选择性败育现象。华北驼绒藜可根据花粉和资源的可利用性来调整性分配、授粉方式和结实以获得最大适合度,具有复杂的繁殖对策,表现出较好的环境适应性。     

巴旦杏授粉试验及花粉管生长的荧光显微观察

对巴旦杏4个主栽品种的授粉试验结果表明：自花授粉试验中“鹰嘴”、“双果”坐果率分别为19．74％和4．29％,“纸皮”和“麻壳”坐果率为零;自然授粉状态下4个主栽品种坐果率在9．37％－20．13％之间;人工异花授粉试验中4个品种9个授粉组合坐果率绝大多数都在40％以上,其中混合花粉授粉试验结果最好;人工养蜂条件下的坐果率明显高于无蜂自然授粉的坐果率,昆虫传粉可达到人工混合花粉授粉的效果。授粉试验还表现出巴旦杏雌蕊柱头的有效授粉时间为开花后花期的前4d,授粉越早,越有利于坐果。荧光显微观察表明,巴旦杏花粉管最早约于授粉第7天通过花柱基部到达子房室,第8天前后到达胚珠。     

濒危植物长柄双花木自然种群结实的花粉和资源限制

长柄双花木（Disanthus cercidifolius Maxim．vsr．longipes H．T．Chang）只零星分布于湖南、江西和浙江等省的少数县,已处于濒危状态。通过对其野外自然种群试验,研究了花粉和资源的有效性对雌性生殖的影响,并进一步探讨了长柄双花木“花多果少”的生殖机制。结果表明：不同来源的花粉对长柄双花木结果率及结籽率均产生显著影响。花粉来源而不是花粉数量对长柄双花木结实存在显著影响。自然条件下,长柄双花木“花一果转化率”约为54馏,“胚珠-种子转化率”约为83．19。施肥处理有利于花芽发育,可使植株花芽败育率明显下降,开花比例升高;同时座果率和结籽率均显著提高,而果实败育率则显著降低。随剪除叶片量的增加,结果率明显降低,但果实败育率在处理间无显著差异;剪除弱小枝条及病虫枝后,个体总开花数虽有所下降,但是结果率和结籽率均显著提高。去除花后,长柄双花木平均单果重、单粒种子重均显著降低。营养水平的时空异质性使自然种群结籽率受到资源和花粉的限制;补充资源可以通过增强花对传粉者的吸引而间接影响传粉。长柄双花木自然种群的坐果率极低,而且存在严重的“大小年”结果现象,不同的因子可能对其低水平坐果率产生相互作用。选择性败育、子房供应和雄性功能假说似乎是长柄双花木“花多果少”的生殖策略的最合理解释。     

橙花瑞香的繁殖特性研究

瑞香属植物具有重要的药用和观赏价值,在中国资源丰富,但自然条件下低坐果率限制了该属植物的进一步开发和利用。该研究以橙花瑞香为对象,通过对其有性繁殖及传粉特性的研究,探索其自然坐果率低的原因,内容包括花部特征的测量分析,MTT染色法测定花粉活性,联苯胺-过氧化氢法测定柱头可授性,扫描电镜观察柱头、花粉的形态,传粉者观察,通过花粉胚珠比(P/O)和人工授粉实验推测橙花瑞香的繁育系统类型。结果表明:橙花瑞香的花部结构特殊,管状小花,花药两轮,雌雄蕊分离。花开后的花粉具有活性,柱头具有可授性,扫描电镜下,柱头和花粉的结构没有发育异常,且柱头上有花粉落置。橙花瑞香的传粉者主要是夜间访花的蛾类,访花频率低。P/O及人工授粉实验表明橙花瑞香的繁育系统为专性异交。橙花瑞香的坐果率非常低,自然坐果率为1.4%,人工异花授粉为23.3%,低坐果率可能是受其开花量大、异花花粉限制、资源限制以及花部结构等因素的影响。     

小叶丁香引种栽培条件下种子败育的解剖学研究

为探讨小叶丁香在北京栽培条件下种子败育的问题,对其胚胎发育过程进行了解剖学观察研究。结果显示:(1)小叶丁香人工异花授粉坐果率为20.37%,天然授粉坐果率为9.13%,人工自花授粉以及去雄套袋授粉均未坐果;各种授粉方式结实率均为0。(2)小叶丁香花药壁发育为基本型,腺质绒毡层,胞质分裂为同时型,小孢子四分体排列方式以四面体型为主,2-胞成熟花粉;倒生胚珠,单珠被,薄珠心,直线型大孢子四分体,胚囊发育为蓼型,核型胚乳,胚发育为紫菀型,先后形成球形胚、心形胚、鱼雷形胚和子叶胚;9月1日以后,子叶胚发育停滞,细胞逐渐降解。研究表明,栽培条件下,小叶丁香为异花授粉植物,人工异花授粉可提高植株坐果率,但未获得种子;其大小孢子及雌雄配子体发育、传粉受精过程、胚胎发育初期均正常,但后期发育停止,是小叶丁香引种栽培条件下种子败育的关键环节。     

大花百子莲的结实和结籽格局及种子产量影响因素分析

在2007和2008年对大花百子莲(Agapanthus praecox subsp.orientalis‘Big Blue’)在群体、果序和单果水平上的结实和结籽格局进行了观测,并依据每花序单花数、单花胚珠数和单粒种子质量推算其单株潜在种子产量;此外,采用人工补充授粉方法研究了不同授粉方式对大花百子莲结实和结籽的影响,并对其种子产量的影响因素进行了分析。结果表明:从始花期、盛花期至末花期,随开花时间的延迟,大花百子莲植株的每花序单花数和座果率均逐渐降低,其中始花期开花的植株每花序单花数和座果率均最高。从果序基部、中部至顶端,座果率和结籽率均逐渐减小且差异显著。在果序基部和中部,果实内种子败育率沿果实基部至顶端依次降低,而单粒种子质量则依次增加;且果序基部的果实各部位的种子败育率均低于果序中部的果实,而单粒种子质量则差异不大。大花百子莲的单株潜在种子产量约为43.18 g,而其单株实际种子产量约为2.87 g,远低于其潜在种子产量。自然授粉的大花百子莲每柱头花粉数为27.5粒,而自花授粉、同株异花授粉和异株授粉的每柱头花粉数均超过100粒;与自然授粉、自花授粉和同株异花授粉植株相比,异株授粉植株的座果率和结籽率均显著增加。研究结果显示:大花百子莲的结实和结籽格局呈现非随机分布规律,在引种地存在有性繁殖障碍;养分和授粉状况是制约大花百子莲种子产量的重要因素。     

人工辅助授粉探寻濒危红树植物红榄李种质资源挽救途径

为了探索濒危红树植物红榄李(Lumnitzera littorea (Jack.) Voigt)种质资源挽救途径, 以三亚铁炉港红榄李为授粉材料, 采集三亚铁炉港和陵水新村港红榄李花粉进行人工辅助异花授粉试验, 结合野外观察和种子萌发实验进行验证。结果表明: 三亚铁炉港红榄李的花期较长, 从花芽开始膨大到落花期末, 最短60 天, 最长可持续140 天, 且开花不整齐; 用培养基法对三亚铁炉港和陵水新村港红榄李的花粉生活力进行检测, 均不超过10%; 人工辅助异花授粉后种子的萌发率有显著提高(自然授粉种子萌发率为0.2‰), 但最高也只能达到5.6‰。实验室萌发种子能够长成幼苗, 且野外林下发现一株红榄李幼苗, 这说明通过人工辅助异花授粉对提高红榄李种子繁育能力有一定的积极作用。     

梅花个体内花柱长度的变异及其对繁殖成功的影响

植物个体内花型的变异影响繁殖成功, 雌性繁殖性状的变异可能影响雌性的繁殖成功, 也可能作为花粉的受体影响雄性的繁殖成功。然而, 植物个体内不同花柱长度的花产生的花粉是否影响植物的繁殖成功却少有研究。梅(Armeniaca mume)是原产我国的重要木本花卉和经济果树, 我们的野外观察发现在同一植株内, 不同花的花柱长度有变异, 存在长柱型、短柱型和雄花型(雌蕊败育)三种花型, 是比较雌性繁殖性状的变异对两性繁殖成功的影响的理想材料。本文主要测量了不同花型的花部特征, 统计花期, 并开展体外花粉萌发以及人工控制授粉实验。结果表明: 长柱型的花冠直径、雌蕊长、单花花粉数、花粉体积显著大于短柱型和雄花型。长柱型的单花期以及雌花期显著长于短柱型。长柱型、短柱型以及雄花型花粉在活体柱头上的萌发率没有显著性差异, 雄花型的花粉管长度显著高于长柱型和短柱型。长柱型为母本的花粉萌发率以及花粉管的长度要显著高于短柱型。长柱型、短柱型、雄花型花粉授粉与自然对照处理的坐果率没有显著性差异, 而长柱型为母本的坐果率要显著高于短柱型为母本的坐果率。这些结果表明野生梅花的长柱型为母本有利于花粉的萌发和花粉管的伸长, 有高的坐果率; 但其作为花粉供体的雄性功能与其他花型没有差异。     

软枣猕猴桃控制授粉对果实和种子的影响

为了研究软枣猕猴桃授粉规律,以11年生软枣猕猴桃紫果3号为试验材料,设置剪留花柱数量为0、2、5、8、11、14、17和23(全留对照组)共8个处理。人工授粉,收获后调查测定其单果重、坐果率、果型指数、果实可溶性固形物含量和果实内含种子数量。结果表明:随着授粉柱头数的增加,单果重等主要指标相应增加;当授粉柱头数增至为8时,其果型指数和果实可溶性固形物含量与对照全留柱头23相比差异不明显;当授粉柱头数增至为11时,其单果重、坐果率和果实内含种子数量与对照全留柱头23相比差异不明显。据此软枣猕猴桃充分授粉的数量级指标为11,当授粉柱头数小于11时,产量降低、品质下降;当授粉柱头大于11时,浪费花粉。生产上可利用猕猴桃精准充分授粉技术,节约使用花粉或减少果园雄株数量,以提高生产效率。     

No evidence for simultaneous pollen and resource limitation in Aciphylla squarrosa: A long‐lived,masting herb

Abstract For successful reproduction animal pollinated plants must provide resources for both pollinator attraction and offspring production, and theory suggests that resources and pollen delivery limit reproduction simultaneously. We conducted a series of experiments involving supplemental pollination, flower removal, fertilizer addition and foliage removal to investigate the interaction of resources and pollen on fruit‐set of Aciphylla squarrosa, a long‐lived, dioecious, masting herb in Wellington, New Zealand. Reducing floral display decreased open‐pollinated fruit‐set, suggesting that display size is a reflection of an optimal investment between attraction and fecundity. In combination with supplemental pollination, resource reduction and fertilization addition did not alter fruit‐set, suggesting that changes in resource availability did not limit reproduction in the current year. In addition, supplemental pollination of non‐manipulated treatments did not increase fruit‐set, demonstrating that plants were not naturally pollen limited. While we found that simultaneous pollen and resource limitation did not occur within a season, this is possibly mitigated by life history patterns including mast flowering and a storage taproot. Multiple year studies are required to further examine simultaneous resource and pollen limitation.     

Autonomous self‐pollination in the nectarless orchid Pogonia minor

The pollination biology of the nectarless orchid Pogonia minor was investigated in central Japan. The investigation revealed that the solitary flowers failed to attract pollinators, while high rates of fruit set were observed in the natural population. Comparable levels of fruit set were obtained in bagged, artificial self‐pollinated and artificial cross‐pollinated plants, indicating that the species is not pollinator‐limited for fruit set under natural conditions. Autonomous self‐pollination in P. minor resulted from a reduced rostellum, which allowed contact between the pollinia and the stigma. Self‐pollination is thought to be an adaptive response that provides reproductive assurance under conditions of pollinator limitation. Since pollen limitation is generally known to be frequent among deceptive orchids, strong pollen limitation is probably a driving force in the autonomous self‐pollination mechanism in the nectarless orchid P. minor.     

Pollen limitation in invasive populations of Solanum rostratum and its relationship to population size

Aims Small plant populations may be more likely to suffer more severe pollen limitation due to the lower number of potential mates or suitable pollinators. For invasive species, this phenomenon may be more common when an invading population colonizes a new habitat. Here, we investigated whether pollen limitation occurs in invasive populations of Solanum rostratum during its invasion from North America to China and evaluated the patterns between pollen limitation and population size.Methods Pollen addition experiments were performed on six invasive populations of S. rostratum. By comparing fruit set and seed production with open pollination treatment, we calculated the index of pollen limitation and regressed it to population size and density.Important findings Among the six sampled invasive populations of S. rostratum, the fruit set and seed production per fruit were 0.346±0.014 and 52.38±9.29, respectively, with open pollination treatment and 0.572±0.022 and 56.28±10.79, respectively, with pollen addition treatment. Compared with open pollination, pollen addition significantly increased fruit set and seed production by 65.3 and 7.4%, respectively. The standardized index of pollen limitation ranged from 0.022 to 0.125, with an average of 0.065, suggesting that invasive populations of S. rostratum do suffer from pollen limitation. The index of pollen limitation was negatively correlated with population size, which is consistent with the pattern that smaller populations suffer from more severe pollen limitation.     

Fruit abortion in the Chihuahuan-Desert endemic cactus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opuntia microdasys</Emphasis>

Resource and pollen limitation, as well as pollen/ovule incompatibility, have been proposed as causes to explain fruit abortion. To assess whether abortion in Opuntia microdasys was due to resource and/or pollen limitation and could therefore be reversed fruit set and seed set were studied using controlled pollination experiments on 60 plants that had been randomly assigned a combination of watering and fertilization treatments. On the other hand, to test whether fruit abortion was irreversible, due to pollen/ovule incompatibility, we examined the reproductive biology of the species. This included observations on floral phenology, nectar production, flower visitors, numbers of pollen grains and ovules, and self-pollination experiments. Results showed that O. microdasys is a fully self-incompatible species and its floral biology and the activity of the main pollinator allow constant deposition of incompatible pollen onto stigmas, which may contribute to fruit abortion. Reproductive success was limited by nutrients and pollen, but the fruit set increased only by 58%, compared to 47% of the control, after the experimental addition of pollen, nutrients and water. The magnitude of pollen and resource limitation suggests that similar levels of abortion will be present in good as well as in bad years. Selfing as well as incompatibility between ramets from the same clone and between closely related plants seem plausible candidates to explain the large proportion of fruit abortion, and experimental cross pollination between genotypes identified through molecular markers are necessary to fully understand the considerable abortion rate that remains unexplained after pollen and resource addition. Interestingly, the possible reason why the abortion of energetically expensive fruits has not been eliminated by natural selection is that the aborted fruits are propagules able to root and produce new plants with the same genotype of the mother. Abortion would have a dramatic effect on cross-fertilized genotypes because they result in zero fitness, but it would have a positive effect on the fitness of the maternal genotype because a clonal offspring is produced. Evidently, the exact fitness consequences to the maternal plant will depend on the differences in survival and reproduction of these different offspring types.     

Causes of Fruit Set Variation in Polygonatum odoratum (Liliaceae)

Abstract: In Polygonatum odoratum (Liliaceae), flowers located distally within the flowering shoot typically exhibit lower fruit set than flowers located proximally. In this study, experiments were performed to investigate whether the lower fruit set of distal flowers is due to pollen limitation, resource competition or "architectural" effects. We found that (1) fruit set and mean number of ovules per flower decline within the flowering shoot from proximal to distal position; (2) variations in the amount of pollen received do not explain the observed differences in fruit set; (3) the fruit set of the most distal flowers was significantly increased by removal of other flower buds in the flowering shoot just before flower opening, indicating that fruit set in these flowers is resource-limited; and (4) removal of proximal flowers increased the fruit set of later flowers to levels similar to those of early flowers of control shoots, arguing against the architectural effects hypothesis.     

Pollen and Resource Limitation in Veratrum nigrum L. （Liliaceae）, an Andromonoecious Herb

Pollen limitation and resource limitation were invoked to account for the pattern that flowering plants produce more flowers and ovules than fruits and seeds. This study aimed to determine their relative importance in Veratrum nigrum, a self-compatible, perennial, andromonoecious herb. In order to determine whether female production was limited by pollen grains on stigmas or by available resources, we performed supplemental hand pollination in three populations, male-flower-bud removal in three other populations, and emasculation of hermaphroditic flowers in still another population, resulting in a total of seven populations experimentally manipulated. Across the three populations, supplemental hand pollination did not significantly increase fruit set, seed number per fruit, and total seed production per individual, nor did emasculation of hermaphroditic flowers. Taken together, our results suggest that pollen grains deposited on stigmas were abundant enough to fertilize all the ovules. Male-flower-bud removal significantly increased the mean size of hermaphroditic flowers in all three populations. Female reproductive success was increased in one population, but not in the other two populations possibly due to heavy flower/seed predation. We concluded that the female reproductive success of V. nigrum was not limited by pollen grains but by available resources, which is consistent with Bateman＇s principle. Furthermore, the female reproduction increase of male-flower-bud removal individuals might suggest a trade-off between male and female sexual functions.     

Floral abortion and pollination in four species of tropical mangroves from northern Australia

We assessed natural rates of floral abortion in four common mangrove species from northern Australia and subsequently manipulated pollination experimentally. Sonneratia alba J. Smith exhibited the highest rate of fruit set of the four species (23%), indicating this mangrove was best able to utilise the natural pollination opportunities provided. Fruit set in S. alba appeared, however, to be pollinator limited, as large increases in fruit set occurred after manual cross-pollination of flowers. Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. had the highest rate of natural pollination, but fruit set was lower (15%) and appeared to be impeded by resource limitations. Although a range of insects visited Ceriops australis (C.T. White) Ballment, T.J. Sm & Stoddart, the rate of fruit set was low (3%) and the capacity for flower fertilisation limited, despite evidence of autogamy in this species. There was an indication of both resource and pollinator limitation in C. australis. Rhizophora stylosa Griff. exhibited limited fruit set (0.5%), possibly due to limiting maternal resources and the lack of adaptation of flowers to either animal or wind pollination. Large increases in fruit set were recorded after manual cross-pollination of R. stylosa flowers. R. stylosa and C. australis, characterised by resource rich propagules with long periods of development, both aborted a large proportion of propagules during the fruit maturation process.     

Mast fruiting in a hawkmoth-pollinated orchid Habenaria glaucifolia: an 8-year survey

Aims The hypothesis of predator satiation has been proposed to explain mast fruiting in various flowering plants. It considers that the simultaneous production of large numbers of seeds by a plant population reduces the risk of seed predation for each individual. Orchids produce huge numbers of seeds per fruit and rarely experience seed predation. It remains unclear which factors may affect fluctuating fruit production in orchids, which generally suffer a widespread pollen limitation. To explore the temporal pattern of fruiting and potential factors related to fluctuation in fruit production, we investigated reproductive success of a long-spurred orchid (Habenaria glaucifolia) in an alpine meadow with thousands of individuals over 8 years.Methods To estimate reproductive success, pollinator observation was conducted by day and at night, and pollinia removal and receipt were recorded in the field population for 8 years. To examine whether fruit set and seed set are pollen limited, we conducted supplementary pollination experiments and compared fruit set, seed set and pollinia movement of open-pollinated flowers from 2011 to 2013. We measured lengths of spurs and pollinator proboscises, and nectar volume and concentration, to identify potential pollinators.Important findings Hawkmoths were seen to be effective pollinators for H. glaucifolia in 3 years, whereas in the remaining 5 years no pollinators were observed, and consequently pollinia were rarely transferred. Numerous pollinia movements were observed in 2012, 2013 and 2014 (pollinia removal: 48, 59 and 85%; pollinia receipt 51, 70 and 80%), and correspondingly fruit set was significantly higher in 2012 and 2013 (59 and 46%) than in 2011 (25%). It was fruit set, rather than seed set, that was pollen limited in this orchid in the 3 years, in that supplementary pollination increased fruit set but did not increase seed set per fruit compared to natural. Three species of hawkmoths had proboscis lengths that matched the spur length of H. glaucifolia. Fruit set in this long spurred orchid depends on the activity of long-tongued hawkmoths, resulting in significant temporal variation in fruit production. Mast fruiting in this alpine orchid could be attributed to a 'sit and wait' strategy, awaiting an abundance of effective pollinators.     

Population size,pollinator visitation and fruit production in the deceptive orchid Calypso bulbosa

It has been proposed that in non-rewarding animal-pollinated plants the pollination intensity should decrease with increasing population size and should increase with increasing local abundance of reward-producing plants. To test these hypotheses, we examined how population size, local abundance of Salix caprea, and tree cover were related to pollen removal and fruit production in 16 populations of the deceptive, early-flowering and bumblebee-pollinated orchid Calypso bulbosa in northern Sweden in 3 consecutive years. To determine whether fruit production was limited by pollinator visitation, supplemental hand-pollinations were performed in three populations in 3 years. Finally, to examine whether increased fruit production was associated with a reduction in future flower production, vegetative growth or survival, supplemental hand-pollination was repeated for 5 years in one population. The levels of pollen export, pollen deposition, and fruit set of C. bulbosa varied considerably among years and among populations. The proportion of plants exporting pollen was negatively related to population size, and positively related to density of S. caprea and to tree cover in 1 of the 3 years. In the other 2 years, no significant relationship was detected between proportion of plants exporting pollen and the latter three variables. In no year was there a significant relationship between fruit set and population size, density of S. caprea and tree cover. There was substantial among-year variation in the extent to which fruit production was limited by insufficient pollen deposition and in the amount of weather-induced damage to flowers and developing fruits. Fruit set was consistently higher in hand-pollinated than in open-pollinated plants, but this difference was statistically significant in only one of 3 years. Supplemental hand-pollination in 5 consecutive years increased cumulative fruit production 1.8 times, but did not affect flower production, plant size, or survival. Tree cover was negatively correlated with the incidence of frost damage in 1 year. The results indicate that life-time seed production may be pollen limited in C. bulbosa, and that variation in population size and local abundance of the early-flowering, nectar-producing S. caprea can only partly explain the extensive variation in pollinator visitation among populations of this species.