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Herkogamy and mating patterns in the self-compatible daffodil Narcissus longispathus
Mónica Medrano1, Carlos M Herrera, Spencer C H Barrett
1Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, E-41013 Sevilla, Spain. monica@ebd.csic.es
Annals of Botany
|March 31, 2005
Summary
Floral traits like anther-stigma separation in Narcissus longispathus do not directly correlate with outcrossing rates. Pollinator behavior appears to be a key factor influencing mating patterns in this self-compatible species.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Plant Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Floral design significantly impacts mating patterns in self-compatible plant species.
- Narcissus longispathus exhibits substantial variation in anther-stigma separation (herkogamy).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between floral trait variation (herkogamy) and the balance of cross- and self-fertilization in Narcissus longispathus.
- To understand how floral morphology influences mating system in a bee-pollinated species.
Main Methods:
- Field measurements of anther-stigma separation across six populations of N. longispathus.
- Quantification of herkogamy variation within individual flowers over their lifespan.
- Estimation of multilocus outcrossing rates using allozyme markers in relation to herkogamy classes.
Main Results:
- Significant variation in anther-stigma separation (1-10 mm) was observed among flowers within populations.
- Developmental variation in herkogamy within individual flowers was minimal and not statistically significant.
- Outcrossing rate estimates (t(m) = 0.49-0.76) did not show a monotonic increase with increasing herkogamy.
Conclusions:
- The absence of a positive correlation between herkogamy and outcrossing rate in N. longispathus is a novel finding.
- Pollinator foraging behavior is hypothesized as the primary driver for the observed mating patterns.
- Floral morphology's influence on mating systems can be modulated by external factors like pollinator interactions.