Dimorphisms and self-incompatibility in the distylous species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Palicourea demissa</Emphasis> (Rubiaceae): possible implications for its reproductive output |
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Authors: | Hamleth Valois-Cuesta Pascual J Soriano Juan Francisco Ornelas |
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Institution: | 1.Programa de Biología con énfasis en Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas,Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó,Quibdó, Chocó,Colombia;2.Postgrado en Ecología Tropical, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias,Universidad de Los Andes,Mérida,Venezuela;3.Departamento de Biología Evolutiva,Instituto de Ecología A.C,Veracruz,México |
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Abstract: | Distyly has been interpreted as a mechanism that favors cross-fertilization. In this research we describe floral attributes
and ancillary floral polymorphisms typically associated to heterostylous plants in Palicourea demissa (Rubiaceae), a distylous shrub of the Venezuelan Andes cloud forests. A hand-pollination experiment was done to evaluate
self- and intramorph incompatibility and female reproductive output in both floral morphs. The studied population was morphologically
distylous but morph differences in most ancillary floral polymorphisms and reciprocity of the sexual organ heights were found.
The floral morphs were self-incompatible and did not differ in fruit set under controlled cross-pollination conditions, but
at the population level they exhibited imperfect reciprocal herkogamy. Fruits and seeds of short-styled plants were larger
than those of long-styled plants and fruit set was higher in short-styled plants under natural conditions, suggesting a higher
reproductive potential among short-styled plants. Given the 1:1 morph ratio within the studied population, further evidence
is needed to determine the influence of floral visitors and seed dispersers in the expression of heterostyly in P. demissa under natural conditions. |
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