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High-Throughput Assays of Critical Thermal Limits in Insects
Published on: June 15, 2020
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Patterns and Drivers of Pollen Temperature Tolerance.
Donam Tushabe1, Sergey Rosbakh1,2
1Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Plant, Cell & Environment
|October 24, 2024
Summary
Understanding pollen temperature limits (PTLs) is crucial for plant reproduction. This study reveals climate and plant traits significantly influence pollen cold tolerance, with implications for climate change adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Plant reproductive biology
- Environmental stress physiology
Background:
- Pollen is highly sensitive to temperature, affecting plant reproduction.
- Pollen temperature limits (PTLs) are critical but poorly understood.
- Drivers of PTL variability across species are largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze pollen temperature limits (PTLs) across 191 species.
- To correlate PTLs with vegetative tissue thermotolerance.
- To assess variability in PTLs based on phylogeny, climate, and plant traits.
Main Methods:
- Examined pollen temperature limits (Tmin, Topt, Tmax) across 191 diverse species.
- Correlated PTLs with leaf and stem thermotolerance.
- Utilized phylogenetic analysis and climate data to identify PTL drivers.
Main Results:
- PTLs varied widely (9.0–42.4°C); vegetative tissues were more tolerant than pollen.
- Weak correlation between PTLs and leaf temperature tolerance; pollen heat tolerance was independent.
- Climate significantly influenced pollen cold tolerance; herbaceous plants showed higher heat tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Pollen temperature tolerance is influenced by climate and plant functional traits.
- Phylogenetic relatedness shows conserved PTLs at the family level.
- Findings offer insights into plant reproductive resilience under climate change.
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