Reproductive aspects and pollination biology in endoparasitic Pilostyles thurberi (Apodanthaceae)
Por:
Ortega-Gonzalez, Pactli F., Rios-Carrasco, Sandra, Mandujano, Maria C., Sanchez, Daniel, Vazquez-Santana, Sonia
Publicada:
1 mar 2023
Ahead of Print:
1 nov 2022
Resumen:
Biotic pollination is typically a mutualism between plants and their
pollinators, where each partner receives a benefit. However, plants can
resort to various reproductive strategies to attract pollinators. Within
angiosperms, a group of plants known as endoparasites is comprised of
only flowers or inflorescences. These plants exhibit various
reproductive strategies, such as different sexual systems and
attractants, and most are dependent on animals for pollination. In the
endoparasitic plants of the family Apodanthaceae, unisexual flowers are
predominant, resulting in dependence on pollinators. Pilostyles thurberi
is characterized by small flowers, but limited information exists about
its reproductive strategies. This study investigated various
reproductive aspects of P. thurberi. We described and compared its
hosts, sexual flower arrangement, floral concentration, rewards, and
reproductive success in different populations. Furthermore, we
determined whether the floral display operates as an attractant by
monitoring pollinators for two years. Our results revealed that P.
thurberi has unisexual flowers with male, female, and mixed sex
arrangements. Bees and wasps are the effective pollinators and are
attracted by the floral display independently of flower sex. This study
was the first to record the production of small amounts of crystallized
nectar by the nectary disk of both floral sexes. Moreover, the findings
were compared with those of other endoparasitic plants, such as
Cytinaceae, Mitrastemonaceae, Rafflesiaceae, and other Apodanthaceae. It
is necessary to continue studying the plant-pollinator interactions and
reproductive strategies of parasitic plants such as Apodanthaceae, since
not much evidence on how they reproduce and survive in the wild exists.
Filiaciones:
Ortega-Gonzalez, Pactli F.:
Laboratorio de Desarrollo en Plantas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), CDMX, Mexico
Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), CDMX, Mexico
Rios-Carrasco, Sandra:
Laboratorio de Desarrollo en Plantas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), CDMX, Mexico
Mandujano, Maria C.:
Departamento de Ecología de la Biodiversidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), CDMX, Mexico
Sanchez, Daniel:
El Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología–Laboratorio Nacional de Identificación y Caracterización Vegetal, Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Vazquez-Santana, Sonia:
Laboratorio de Desarrollo en Plantas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), CDMX, Mexico
|