J Integr Plant Biol ›› 2016, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (10): 818-821.DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12477

• •    下一篇

Pollen size strongly correlates with stigma depth among Pedicularis species

Xiang-Ping Wang1, Wen-Bin Yu2, Shi-Guo Sun3 and Shuang-Quan Huang3*   

  • 收稿日期:2016-01-20 接受日期:2016-03-14 出版日期:2016-03-15 发布日期:2016-03-15

Pollen size strongly correlates with stigma depth among Pedicularis species

Xiang-Ping Wang1, Wen-Bin Yu2, Shi-Guo Sun3 and Shuang-Quan Huang3*   

  1. 1College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
    2Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China
    3School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
  • Received:2016-01-20 Accepted:2016-03-14 Online:2016-03-15 Published:2016-03-15
  • About author:*Correspondence: E-mail: Hsq@mail.ccnu.edu.cn

摘要: It was often observed a positive correlation between pollen size and style length among different species. However, Darwin (1877) had proposed that pollen size should be positively correlated with stigma depth rather than style length, given that pollen tubes first enter the stigma autotrophically, thereafter grow through the style heterotrophically. We provide evidence in support of the Darwin’s hypothesis by surveying 42 Pedicularis species with the phylogenetic independent contrast analysis.

Abstract:

Darwin proposed that pollen size should be positively correlated with stigma depth rather than style length among species given that pollen tubes first enter the stigma autotrophically, then grow through the style heterotrophically. However, studies often show a positive relationship between pollen size and style length. Five floral traits were observed to be correlated among 42 bumblebee-pollinated Pedicularis species (Orobanchaceae) in which stigmas are distinct from styles. The phylogenetic independent contrast analysis revealed that pollen grain volume was more strongly correlated with stigma depth than with style length, consistent with Darwin's functional hypothesis between pollen size and stigma depth.

Key words: Pedicularis, phylogenetic comparative analysis, pollen grain volume, pollen tube growth, stigma depth, style length, trait correlation

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