Effects of pollen competitive environment on pollen performance in Mirabilis jalapa (Nyctaginaceae) |
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Authors: | R A Niesenbaum S K Schueller |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA 18104-5586, USA Fax 610-821-3546, e-mail niesenba@muhlberg.edu, US;(2) Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 18081-1397, USA, US |
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Abstract: | We examined the influence of pollen competitive environment on pollen performance in Mirabilis
jalapa. We used the number of pollen grains and the number of pollen tubes per pistil as measures of pollen competition. Pollen
germination, pollen tube penetration into the style, and pollen tube growth rates were used as measures of pollen performance.
All three measures of pollen performance were affected by the competitive environment. Pollen germination was greatest at
intermediate pollen load sizes. The percentage of germinated pollen grains that penetrated the stigma and grew into the style
decreased with pollen load size. Pollen tube growth rate in the style was greater and more variable with larger numbers of
pollen tubes in the style. Controlling for the degree of selection at the stigma indicated that pollen-pollen or pollen-style
interactions were the likely causes of increased growth rates.
Received: 28 October 1996 / Revision accepted: 24 January 1997 |
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Keywords: | Pollen Pollen competition Pollen performance Microgametophyte |
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