| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Smith-Huerta, Nancy L. [1], McClain, Jennifer R. [1], Huerta, Alfredo J. [1]. Petal spot correlates positively with pollen tube numbers inflowers from a natural population of Clarkiatembloriensis (Onagraceae). Color patterns are known to influence bee visitation to flowers, and many species of bee- pollinated plants are polymorphic for flower color. It is possible then that certain flower color patterns in a polymorphic population could be visited preferentially by bees, resulting in greater pollen deposition and higher seed set in the preferred flower color type. This study examined the effects of a petal spot polymorphism (presence or absence) on pollen grain deposition and pollen tube growth within the style, in a natural population of the California wildflower Clarkia tembloriensis. About 25 percent more pollen grains were deposited on the stigma of spotted flowers than unspotted, although the difference was not statistically significant. However, styles of flowers with spotted petals contained significantly more pollen tubes (approximately 30 percent more p=0.05) than flowers with spot-free petals. This difference might result in significant difference in seed set between the two petal spot morphs, however seed set was not measured in this study.
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1 - Miami University, Department of Botany, 316 Pearson Hall, Oxford, Ohio, 45056, USA
Keywords:
petal spot polymorphism
Clarkia
pollen tubes.
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 33-27
Location: Salon C, D & E - Gov Ballroom/Hilton
Date: Tuesday, August 16th, 2005
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:90 |
