J Integr Plant Biol. ›› 2016, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (2): 178-187.DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12374

• Molecular Ecology and Evolution • Previous Articles    

Floral nectary, nectar production dynamics, and floral reproductive isolation among closely related species of Pedicularis

Ya-Nan Liu1,3, Yan Li2, Fu-Sheng Yang1* and Xiao-Quan Wang1*   

  1. 1State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
    2Institute of Alpine Economic Plant, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lijiang, China
    3University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Abstract:

Floral nectar is thought to be one of the most important rewards that attract pollinators in Pedicularis; however, few studies have examined variation of nectary structure and/or nectar secretion in the genus, particularly among closely related species. Here we investigated nectary morphology, nectar quality, and nectar production dynamics in flowers of Pedicularis section Cyathophora. We found a conical floral nectary at the base of the ovary in species of the rex-thamnophila clade. Stomata were found on the surface of the nectary, and copious starch grains were detected in the nectary tissues. In contrast, a semi-annular nectary was found in flowers of the species of the superba clade. Only a few starch grains were observed in tissues of the semi-annular nectary, and the nectar sugar concentration in these flowers was much lower than that in the flowers of the rex-thamnophila clade. Our results indicate that the floral nectary has experienced considerable morphological, structural, and functional differentiation among closely related species of Pedicularis. This could have affected nectar production, leading to a shift of the pollination mode. Our results also imply that variation of the nectary morphology and nectar production may have played an important role in the speciation of sect. Cyathophora.

 

Liu YN, Li Y, Yang FS, Wang XQ (2016) Floral nectary, nectar production dynamics, and floral reproductive isolation among closely related species of Pedicularis. J Integr Plant Biol 58: 178–187 doi: 10.1111/jipb.12374

Key words: Pedicularis, nectary, nectar, pollination, reproductive isolation, speciation, section Cyathophora

Editorial Office, Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, Institute of Botany, CAS
No. 20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093, China
Tel: +86 10 6283 6133 Fax: +86 10 8259 2636 E-mail: jipb@ibcas.ac.cn
Copyright © 2022 by the Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Online ISSN: 1744-7909 Print ISSN: 1672-9072 CN: 11-5067/Q
备案号:京ICP备16067583号-22