濒危植物蒙古扁桃花粉活力和柱头可授性研究

用过氧化氢酶法测定蒙古扁桃花粉的活力和寿命,用联苯胺-过氧化氢法测定柱头可授性。结果表明,蒙古扁桃花粉活力在散粉后第2天最高,3d后活力迅速下降,三种类型的植株的花粉活力下降速度存在差异,其活力可持续30d左右。短柱头植株柱头在开花后1d可分泌黏液,长柱头和中柱头花植株的柱头在开花后2d才分泌黏液,短柱头分泌黏液的持续时间较后者长。柱头可授性持续时间同种之间也存在差异,长柱头和中柱头植株可达6d,而短柱头花植株可持续10d左右。     

Flowering and pollination patterns of Magnolia denudata with emphasis on anatomical changes in ovule and seed development

Magnolia denudata is an excellent ornamental and ecologically important tree that exhibits low fecundity because of seed abortion. To better understand the cause of this low sexual reproduction, pistil receptivity, and pollen quality were investigated using culture medium and histochemical staining, with emphasis on pollen viability at different flowering stages. Cross-pollination, geitonogamy, and self-pollination were undertaken on flowers of sample trees. We found that flowers produce a large number of pollen grains available for effective pollination. Pollen viability varied at different stages, but was highest during stage 3, in which the stamens detach from the axis, the anthers dehisce, and the gynoecium stigma starts to fade. The duration of pistil receptivity was approximately 5 h. These results indicate that poor fertilisation may occur if the optimum period for pollination is missed or the stigma receives poor-quality pollen grains from stages other than stage 3. Although dichogamy avoids selfing, it has led to considerable geitonogamy. Our anatomical analysis of ovule and seed development further revealed that fertilisation occurred in samples with geitonogamy, but that the embryo degenerated in the torpedo stage, demonstrating that aborted seeds were produced by fertilisation, rather than by pseudogamy. Our results provide new insights into the mechanism of reduced seed set under natural conditions.     

滇重楼和毛重楼花粉活力和柱头可授性的研究

用TTC法测定了滇重楼和毛重楼花粉的活力,用联苯胺—过氧化氢法测定了其柱头的可授性。结果表明滇重楼的花粉活力在散粉后第1天活力较高以后则逐渐下降,在第2天和第19天花粉活力则急剧下降,但能维持20～23d,在整个花期中基本都具有活力。毛重楼的花粉寿命约为4d,第2天花粉活力达到最大值,第3天后花粉活力急剧下降,总体活力较低。滇重楼和毛重楼的柱头在整个花期中几乎都具可授性,但滇重楼在11～13d时柱头可授性最强,毛重楼在第5天可授性最强。两种重楼植物花粉活力较高的时期与柱头可授性较强的时期不一致,但柱头可授性较强的时间与分泌黏液较多的时间基本一致。     

七叶树花粉活力和柱头可授性变化的研究

采用花粉离体萌发法研究不同蔗糖浓度、硼酸浓度和不同温度对七叶树花粉萌发的影响及花粉活力测定,用联苯胺-过氧化氢法测定柱头可授性.结果表明:七叶树花粉萌发的最佳培养基是12％蔗糖+30 mg/L硼酸,花粉萌发的最适温度为25℃.雄花在开花当天花粉活力最高达75.69％,并在开花当天的上午10:00时,花粉活力最强,10:00～16:00花粉活力保持较高活力,是最佳授粉时段.两性花的柱头可授期持续时间较长,为8～9 d,开花3d达到最强,开花1～4 d柱头可授性保持较高水平,为授粉的最佳时间段.因此,从七叶树的花部特征、花粉活力与柱头可授性及花粉萌发的条件看,在长期的自然选择下七叶树在花部结构和开花生理上都是相配合的,以保障生殖成功.     

四倍体和二倍体盾叶薯蓣的花粉活力及柱头可受性分析

盾叶薯蓣（Dioscorea zingiberens C．H．Wright）叶片呈盾形,叶面有不规则的黄白色斑块;蒴果干燥后呈蓝黑色,表面常附有白色粉状物;染色体数20;花粉两端略尖,外壁具有明显条纹。盾叶薯蓣根茎横生,俗称黄姜,可用于治疗皮肤感染、软组织损伤、蜂蜇虫咬及各种外科炎症。盾叶薯蓣根茎所含的薯蓣皂苷元（皂素,diosgenin）是合成甾体激素药物的主要原料,除具有抗炎、避孕等作用外,还可月季于合成镇痛药、杀虫剂及治疗冠心病的药物。     

敦煌‘李光杏’花芽发育过程中雌蕊败育观察及生物学特性调查

为克服杏生产中雌蕊败育现象、提高坐果率,该研究以甘肃省敦煌市的‘李光杏’盛果期不同树势(强势树、中庸树和弱势树)和不同类型结果枝(花束状果枝、短果枝、中果枝、长果枝)的花芽为试材,对其开花物候期及生物学特性进行调查,采用石蜡切片观察易发生败育时期(花芽分化初期、雌蕊分化期、花粉细胞期和花蕾膨大期)的花芽内部组织结构形态,同时测定各主要败育时期叶片可溶性糖、淀粉含量及矿质元素的变化。结果表明:(1)弱树花芽的平均败育率最高(91.26%),中庸树最低(71.08%);不同类型结果枝中,花束状果枝花芽的败育率最低,长果枝的败育率最高。(2)不同结果枝类型的花粉生活力表现为花束状果枝>短果枝>中果枝>长果枝,花粉发芽率表现为短果枝>花束状果枝>中果枝>长果枝。各花型花粉生活力表现为雌蕊高于雄蕊>雌雄等长>雌蕊低于雄蕊>无雌蕊,发芽率的表现为雌雄等长>雌蕊高于雄蕊>雌蕊低于雄蕊>无雌蕊。(3)各树势花芽雌蕊分化期叶片可溶性糖与淀粉含量显著低于其他时期;叶片P、K、Ca含量在分化前期较高,但是雌蕊、雄蕊分化期显著下降。(4)与正常花相比,败育花主要表现为子房发育异常,多数生长点不均匀,子房萎缩,胚珠原基发育停滞;雌蕊的花柱低于花丝,且花粉粒急剧减少。研究发现,‘李光杏’树势的强弱会造成败育花比例和坐果率的差异,并以中庸树果实坐果率最高,且花败育率最低;雌蕊发育是否正常直接关系到‘李光杏’正常开花,雌蕊的发育受阻,最终成为整个花芽退化的主要形式;叶片碳水化合物和矿质元素等营养物质参与并保证了花器官的正常发育。     

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。     

Pollen viability and longevity: Practical, ecological and evolutionary implications

The present article reviews the various definitions and terminology of pollen viability and longevity as well as the various tests of its assessment. We compare the advantages and the disadvantages of each method and suggest some practical implications as revealed by the extensive data. We recognize eight main hypotheses concerning the ecology and the evolution of pollen longevity and critically evaluated them according to the literature. The hypotheses are grouped as follows: (1) Desiccation risk-carbohydrate content; (2) Pollen packaging; (3) Pollen competitive ability; (4) Pollinator activity-stigma receptivity duration; (5) Self-pollination chance; (6) Pollen exposure schedule; (7) Pollen travel distance, and (8) Pollen removal chance.     

黑河中游和烟台海滨中国柽柳的传粉生态学研究

中国柽柳(Tamarix chinensis)是干旱及半干旱地区的重要建群物种.为便于其有效利用和引种栽培,对黑河中游和烟台海滨的中国柽柳的开花动态、花粉活力、柱头可授性、访花者种类、花粉-胚珠比(P/O)、杂交指数(OCI)及座果率进行观测,结果表明:黑河中游和烟台海滨柽柳的花期和柱头可授性相似,花序花期为2-5天,开花当天柱头可授活性最大,之后逐渐下降,第4天柱头无可授性;花粉活力和访花者种类差别较大,黑河柽柳开花第1天花粉活力为(62±4.31)％,最高为(82.12±7.23)％,4天后花粉完全失活.烟台柽柳的花粉活力在开花后第1天最高为(89.13±7.23)％,第4天花粉活力下降为(11±1.12)％.黑河中游和烟台海滨柽柳的访花者均以膜翅目昆虫为主,黑河柽柳以黑带斑沙蜂(Bembix melanura)、卡切叶蜂[Megechile (Amegachile) kagiana]和黑带食蚜蝇(Episyrphus balteatus)等为主要访花者;烟台柽柳以姬蜂(Ichneumon sp.)、大灰食蚜蝇(Metasyrphus corollae)和灰地种蝇(Delia platura)等为主要访花者.二者P/O值、OCI及座果率差异不显著,黑河和烟台柽柳的P/O值分别为373.6±71.9和382.1±86.2;最高座果率分别为(89.72±7.76)％和(93.17±8.21)％;OCI均为3.上述研究结果显示,黑河中游和烟台海滨柽柳均为兼性异交的繁育系统.     

珍稀濒危植物距瓣尾囊草(Urophysa rochkii)的开花物候和繁育系统特性

通过野外观察,运用套袋授粉和联苯胺-过氧化氢法等实验方法对距瓣尾囊草开花物候以及种群的繁育系统特性进行研究。研究结果:1)距瓣尾囊草为两性花,聚伞状花序,花期较长,从头年12月持续到次年4月,单花花期持续8—15 d,种群花期可持续4个月左右。2)距瓣尾囊草在花朵未开放前花粉没有活力,花药开裂当天花粉活力达到94.8%,第2天为90.3%,第3天为81.6%,第4天为62.9%,此后其花粉活力明显减弱;柱头可授性于散粉后第3天开始出现,散粉后4—5天最强,散粉后第8天柱头失去可授性;柱头可授性和花粉活力有5 d左右的重叠期。3)其花粉胚珠比P/O为938.5±250,按照Cruden标准划分,其有性繁育系统为兼性异交。4)按照Dafni的标准,距瓣尾囊草的OCI=4,即繁育系统为异交、部分自交亲和、需要传粉者。5)人工异花授粉结实率达80%以上,略高于自然结实率78.94%;直接套袋结实率为5.71%;去雄套袋和去雌套袋均不结实。以上结果表明,距瓣尾囊草繁育系统表现为异交为主、部分自交亲和并且不存在无融合生殖现象,其开花物候、花部特征和繁育系统为适应特殊的环境提供了一定的生殖保障,本次研究结果为距瓣尾囊草的迁地保护和种群的繁衍复壮提供理论依据。     

芍药花粉活力和柱头可授性的研究

用TTC法测定了芍药花粉的活力和寿命,用联苯胺—过氧化氢法测定了其柱头的可授期。结果表明,栽培芍药单瓣花植株的花粉活力和重瓣花植株的花粉活力在开花初期(1～2d)无明显差别,但重瓣花植株的花粉活力比单瓣花植株的花粉活力下降快;通常情况下,花粉寿命约为7d。栽培品种的柱头有个体差异,单瓣花植株有的开花后2h即可分泌粘液,而重瓣花植株的柱头在开花后,有的一直不分泌粘液,有的在开花后两天才分泌粘液;单瓣花植株的柱头可授性比重瓣花植株的强,一般分别在开花后6d和3d之内具可授性。移栽的野生芍药植株的花粉活力比栽培品种下降的慢,其寿命也较长,一般为15d;柱头的可授性和粘液分泌比栽培植株强。     

The phenology of gender in homogamous flowers: temporal change in the residual sex function of flowers of Oil-seed Rape (Brassica napus)

1. We investigated the phenology of the male and female sexual functions in flowers of Oil-seed Rape ( Brassica napus ) that were exposed to pollinators in an experimental garden. The female 'residual sex function' (RSF) of flowers was measured by hand-pollinating with genetically marked pollen in order to determine the proportion of ovules that remained available for fertilization by incoming pollen. Male RSF was measured by estimating the proportion of pollen grains that remained in dehiscing anthers.
2. Following flower opening, an average flower's male and female sexual functions each required for completion c. 13 h of exposure to pollinators. One hour after opening, c. 50% of a flower's ovules were unavailable to incoming pollen whereas only c. 10% of pollen was removed. Therefore, a flower's sexual function was predominantly female for the first hour and predominantly male thereafter.
3. We found a fairly close correspondence between the proportion of the stigma covered with pollen and the depletion of female RSF.
4. On average, floral senescence occurred after c. 14·5 h of exposure to pollinators. Our observations are fairly consistent with a simple, economic model of optimal senescence time because the flowers remained open for approximately the same length of time as was necessary for the completion of their sexual functions.
5. A flower's senescence was hastened when pollen was removed from the anthers, but not when pollen was deposited on the stigma.
6. When flowers were either left undisturbed or hand-pollinated, senescence occurred after c. 24 h. Pollen removal caused senescence after c. 13 h, which also approximated the longevity of flowers in the experimental garden. Apparently, pollen removal governed floral longevity under field conditions.     

内蒙古居群抗寒西伯利亚杏繁殖生态学研究

对内蒙古居群抗寒西伯利亚杏的12个种源同一树龄的102株进行雌蕊败育率、花粉量、花粉活力、柱头可授性及自交不亲和性进行研究,以明确西伯利亚杏主产地资源的花期生物学特性和繁殖特性,为杏杂交育种和资源利用提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)有86.27%的西伯利亚杏雌蕊败育率低于90%;73.53%的西伯利亚杏单朵花花粉量在1×104～5×104之间;86.27%的西伯利亚杏花粉活力低于50%,且寿命较短。(2)花苞在将开未开时,柱头已经具备一定的可授性,开花后1～4d内柱头可授性保持较高水平,第5天开始有下降趋势。(3)荧光显微观察结果显示,授粉后16h时,96.08%的杏花花粉管在花柱上部;授粉后24h时,74.51%的杏花花粉管仍在花柱上部;授粉后48h时,35.29%的杏花花粉管到达花柱中部;授粉后80h时,花粉管到达花柱下部的杏花约50%,但受精胚珠数为0。研究认为,西伯利亚杏基本为自交不亲和。     

短命植物甘新念珠芥（Neotorularia korolkovii）和宽翅菘蓝（Isatis violascens）的物候与性表达特征

甘新念珠芥（Neotorularia korolkovii）和宽翅菘蓝（Isatis violascens）是两种广泛分布于新疆准噶尔荒漠的十字花科早春短命植物。对其物候与性表达特征研究结果表明：(1) 二者种子均在3月下旬萌发,5月下旬和6月上旬果实完全成熟,生活周期分别为62d和71d,其中营养生长期约占1/3、生殖生长期约占2/3。(2) 花均为两性,四强雄蕊,单花开放时间较短,长雄蕊的花药开裂早于短雄蕊,但短雄蕊花药中的花粉数较长雄蕊的多。(3) 长、短雄蕊花药中花粉可育率均达90%以上,花粉活力的变化曲线基本相同,柱头可授期分别为9.0h和4.5h,花粉寿命及柱头可授期均短于单花花期,花粉活力最高的时期正是其柱头的最佳授粉期。柱头可授期与花粉活力及寿命在时间上的高度吻合,增加了在不可预测环境中授粉的机会与效率,从而保障生殖成功。(4) 二者的P/O（花粉/胚珠）值分别为108.07±17.17、992.10±272.16,属于自交繁育系统;对其传粉过程、套袋实验及荧光显微观察的结果也证明它们主要以自花传粉的方式来进行交配。(5) 两种植物从物候、花部性表达以及交配式样上均存在与其严酷荒漠环境相适应的特点,是长期适应准噶尔荒漠特殊生态环境的结果,对于保证繁殖成功并扩大种群具有重要的意义。     

The effects of time,temperature and plant variety on pollen viability and its implications for gene flow risk

• Pollen viability affects the probability that a pollen grain deposited on a plant's stigma will produce a viable seed. Because a mature seed is needed before a gene flow event can occur, pollen viability will influence the risk of escape for genetically engineered (GE) crops.
• Pollen viability was measured at intervals for up to 2 h following removal of the pollen from the anthers. It was quantified at three temperatures and for different alfalfa varieties, including both conventional and Roundup Ready (RR) varieties. Pollen viability was assessed using in vitro germination.
• Time since removal from the anthers was the most prevalent factor affecting pollen viability in alfalfa. Pollen viability declined with increasing time at all three temperatures and for all varieties tested. Pollen viability was not affected by temperatures ranging between 25 and 37 °C and did not vary among plant varieties, including conventional and RR varieties.
• Bee foraging behaviour suggested pollen viability within the first 10 min following pollen removal from a flower to most affect seed production. Pollen longevity was predicted to have little impact on seed set and gene flow. Linking pollinator behaviour to pollen viability improved our understanding of its impact on gene flow risk.

     

高山植物全缘叶绿绒蒿在不同海拔地区的传粉生态学研究北大核心CSCD

为了探明高山植物全缘叶绿绒蒿(Meconopsis integrifolia)的繁育系统特点和其对高山气候环境的繁殖适应特征,我们沿海拔梯度选择了5个样地(样地1(4 452 m)、样地2(4 215 m)、样地3(4 081 m)、样地4(3 841 m)、样地5(3 681 m))对其传粉生态学进行了连续2年的观察试验。结果发现,样地1、2的全缘叶绿绒蒿的单花寿命显著长于样地3、4和5。花开放早期柱头高于花药,之后花药不断伸长,并在开放中后期与柱头接触,说明全缘叶绿绒蒿具有不完全雌雄异位的花部特征。自然状态下,柱头可授能力持续期约8天(雌蕊先熟),但花药于开花第5天才散粉,花粉寿命约2天,说明全缘叶绿绒蒿为雌雄异熟,但存在一定的重叠期。人工授粉试验表明,全缘叶绿绒蒿自交部分亲和,且不存在无融合生殖现象。各样地中自然对照的结实率显著低于人工异交处理的结实率,说明自然状态下全缘叶绿绒蒿存在一定程度的传粉限制。传粉昆虫观察发现,样地1和2的传粉昆虫主要是蝇类,样地3、4和5的传粉昆虫主要是蝇类和蓟马(Thripidae spp.),蝇类在不同植株间的活动能够保证异花传粉结实,同时,蝇类和蓟马在花内的活动会引起"协助自交"。全缘叶绿绒蒿约65%的观察个体存在"自动自交"。蝇类在各样地的访花频率存在显著差异,样地1访花频率最低,样地2访花频率最高。各样地的结实由于异花传粉者的不足而受到传粉限制。两种不同类型的自交机制恰恰为该植物异花传粉者不足提供了一定程度的繁殖补偿。全缘叶绿绒蒿不分泌花蜜,当环境温度降低时,采取为昆虫提供保温庇护场所的方式来吸引传粉者。     

The effect of temperature on the duration of the effective pollination period in ‘Oblica’ olive (Olea europaea) cultivar

The effective pollination period (EPP) was determined for ‘Oblica’ olive trees in response to sequential pollinations at anthesis and at increasing days after. The role played by each of three components of the EPP, namely the stigmatic receptivity, pollen tube growth and ovule longevity was examined and the duration of the EPP under different environmental conditions was calculated. An increase in temperature in the field was caused by enclosing bearing trees within polyethylene cages. The duration of the EPP varied between years and environmental conditions. Initial fruit set (IFS) declined gradually in response to sequential cross‐pollination. The significant decrease with respect to the maximum levels of IFS occurred 5 days after anthesis (DAA) in 2007 and between 4 and 5 DAA in 2010 at both environmental conditions. However, the fruit set decrease with sequential pollinations was sharper for the trees inside the cages than for trees growing at the open air, suggesting that high temperatures induce earlier and more pronounced decrease in flower fertility. The stigma receptivity was quite extended decreasing slowly with time. In 2010, the stigma receptivity was prolonged beyond sampling date (7 DAA) in both environmental conditions. Stigmas first lost the capacity to support pollen germination and later their capacity to adhere pollen grains. Pollen tube growth occurred rapidly and fertilization took place 1 or 2 days after pollination. Cross‐pollination resulted with higher fertilization levels, whereas fertilization was reduced and delayed under self‐pollination. Enclosing the trees within the cages had small effect on cross‐pollination but impaired the self‐pollination which resulted with reduced levels of fertilization. The ovule longevity was prolonged beyond the end of sampling in both years and conditions (beyond 9 DAA in 2009 or 7 DAA in 2010). Discrepancy between the estimates of the duration of the EPP based on analyses of its components and those indicated by the declines in fruit set from delayed pollination suggests that a different component of the pistil, the style, could have the critical role in determining the duration of the EPP.     

Viability and longevity of pollen from transgenic and nontransgenic tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) (Poaceae) plants

Pollen is an important vector of gene flow in plants, particularly for outcrossing species like tall fescue. Several aspects of pollination biology were investigated using pollen from transgenic and nontransgenic plants of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), the most important forage species worldwide of the Festuca genus. To effectively assess in vitro pollen viability in tall fescue, an optimized germination medium (0.8 mol/L sucrose, 1.28 mmol/L boric acid and 1.27 mmol/L calcium nitrate) was developed. Treatment with relatively high temperatures (36° and 40°C) and high doses of UV-B irradiation (900-1500 μW/cm(2)) reduced pollen viability, while relative humidity did not significantly influence pollen viability. Viability of pollen from transgenic progenies (T1 and T2) was similar to that from seed-derived control plants. Pollen from primary transgenics (T0) and primary regenerants (R0) had various levels of viability. Hand pollination using the primary regenerants and transgenics revealed that no seed set could be obtained when pollen viability was lower than 5%. Pollen from transgenic progenies and nontransgenic control plants could survive up to 22 h under controlled conditions in growth chamber. However, under sunny atmospheric conditions, viability of transgenic and nontransgenic pollen reduced to 5% in 30 min, with a complete loss of viability in 90 min. Under cloudy atmospheric conditions, pollen remained viable up to 240 min, with about 5% viability after 150 min. This report is the first on pollen viability and longevity in transgenic forage grasses and could be useful for risk assessment of transgenic plants.     

野菊与菊花杂交中花粉活力和柱头可授性及胚胎发育研究

应用石蜡制片、活体压片、光学显微镜及扫描电子显微镜观察等方法,研究了四倍体河南云台山野菊(Dendranthema indicum)与栽培菊花'钟山金山'(D.grandiflorum 'Zhongshanjinshan')种间杂交中父本花粉活力、花粉在柱头萌发、花粉管生长及胚胎发育情况等.结果发现,父本云台山野菊的花粉活力在授粉时为12%左右.人工授粉后的不同时间,在柱头上都观察到正常萌发的花粉粒,且花粉管都能进入柱头,其中,在授粉后0.5 h时,平均每柱头有5.9粒花粉萌发;12 h时,为59.9粒;而24和48 h时,则分别降为47.1和35.7粒.此外,在授粉后8、10、12和15 d时,分别在49.1%、40.8%、39.7%和38.5%子房内观察到正常发育的胚胎,最终杂交结实率为44.8%,而母本自然开放结实率为52.3%.研究表明,授粉前其多数母本雌蕊发育良好、授粉后多数花粉能在柱头正常萌发和花粉管正常生长,在受精后大部分胚胎发育正常是野菊与栽培菊种间杂交较高结实率的重要保证,而授粉前父本较低的花粉活力对杂交结实率影响不大.     

Anther opening, pollen biology and stigma receptivity in the long blooming species, Parietaria judaica L. (Urticaceae)

Background and aimsThis paper is about pollen ecophysiology, anther opening, pollen dispersal and the timing of the male and female phases in Parietaria judaica (Urticaceae).MethodsEcophysiological (effects of different relative humidities (RHs) and osmotic relationships) and cytological methods (stigmatic receptivity, pollen viability, histology and histochemistry) were used to determine pollen and pollination features during the long blooming period of this species.Key resultsPollen is dispersed by rapid uncurling of the filament and anther opening. The filament and anther lack cells with lignified wall thickenings, which are usually responsible for anther opening and ballistic pollen dispersal. Instead, dispersal is the result of the sudden movement of the filament. Pollen is of the partially hydrated type, i.e. with a water content greater than 30% at shedding, and readily loses water, and hence viability, at low RH. Pollen carbohydrate reserves differ with season. Starchless grains germinate quickly and are less subject to water loss. Flowers are protogynous, pollen release occurring only after complete cessation of the female phase within an inflorescence.ConclusionParietaria has partially hydrated pollen which differs from typical pollen of this type because of its reduced size and the absence of callose. Because of its low water content at the time of shedding it survives better at higher RH. Dispersal and pollination are adapted to pollen features.