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Stigma closure and re-opening in Oroxylum indicum (Bignoniaceae): Causes and consequences
Tuanjit Sritongchuay1, Sara Bumrung, Upatham Meesawat
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand 90122.
American Journal of Botany
|May 31, 2011
Summary
Plant stigmas close in response to touch and pollen, but reopen to foreign pollen, influencing plant reproduction. This floral touch response affects pollen receipt and tube growth, with implications for plant fitness.
Area of Science:
- Plant reproductive biology
- Floral ecophysiology
- Plant-pollinator interactions
Background:
- Plant responses to touch are well-studied in vegetative organs but less so in floral structures.
- Stigma closure is observed in Bignoniaceae, yet the underlying mechanisms and consequences remain unclear.
- Understanding floral touch responses is crucial for comprehending plant reproductive strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate factors influencing stigma closure and reopening in Oroxylum indicum.
- To determine the effects of pressure, pollen type (conspecific vs. heterospecific), and pollen load on stigma behavior.
- To assess the impact of stigma closure on pollen receipt and subsequent pollen tube growth.
Main Methods:
- Examined stigma behavior in 270 Oroxylum indicum flowers under varying conditions: pressure, conspecific pollen, and heterospecific pollen.
- Quantified pollen receipt and pollen tube numbers in styles after different pollination treatments (hand-supplemented and open-pollinated).
- Conducted manipulative experiments to isolate the effect of stigma closure on pollen reception.
Main Results:
- Stigma closure was induced by pressure and pollination; reopening occurred after heterospecific pollination but not conspecific pollination.
- Pollen load did not influence stigma behavior, but stigmas discriminated between conspecific and foreign pollen.
- Stigma closure did not affect the number of conspecific pollen grains received; pollen tube numbers peaked at moderate pollination loads.
Conclusions:
- Oroxylum indicum stigmas exhibit differential responses to pollen types, suggesting a mechanism for mate choice or reproductive isolation.
- The study highlights the adaptive significance of floral touch responses in regulating pollen reception and potentially optimizing fertilization.
- Interference among pollen grains may limit reproductive success under very high pollen loads, impacting plant fitness.
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