Breeding System in Ficus carica, the Common Fig. II. Pollination Events

Beck, N. G.; Lord, Elizabeth M.

doi:10.2307/2444746

Cited by 17 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In conclusion, monoecious species (and their pollinators) that correspond to recent transitions to passive pollination, such as F. curtipes and some species of subsection Platypodeae, probably share some morphological traits of actively pollinated species due to phylogenetic inertia. 19 The arrangement of stigmata in passively pollinated gynodioecious figs was analyzed in the case of Ficus carica (Beck and Lord, 1988b). In "female plants", the pistillate flowers show stigmata with two elongated branches very similar to those of the longer-styled stigmata of F. obtusiuscula with the presence of papillae all around the stigmatic branches.…”

Section: Ficus Ulmifolia (Gynodioecious Active)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological diversity and function of the stigma in Ficus species (Moraceae)

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The stigma plays several roles such as pollen hydration and selection, and pollen tube nutrition. In the Ficus-fig wasp mutualism, stigmata have an additional, almost unknown, function by representing a physical interface for both plant and wasp reproduction. We used light and electron microscopy to compare the detailed morphology of the stigmata of nine Ficus species of different sections and with different pollination modes and sexual expressions. Figs were collected at the stage when the stigmata were receptive for pollination. Stigmata in actively pollinated monoecious species have well developed papillae concentrated on the adaxial surface exposed towards the fig cavity. Conversely, the passively pollinated monoecious species have the whole surface of the stigmata covered by somewhat smaller papillae. In both actively and passively pollinated monoecious species these features are consistent, irrespective of style length. In all actively pollinated gynodioecious species, the stigmata of pistillate flowers were tubular or infundibuliform whereas in almost all actively pollinated monoecious species (except F. racemosa) the stigmata were filiform, with one branch or two asymmetric branches. In gynodioecious species the short-styled flowers in "male" figs show a limited receptive surface with small papillae, while the stigmata of long-styled flowers in "female" figs are covered by papillae that extend down the sides of the style, increasing the stigmatic surface. In actively pollinated species, stigmata are cohesive, forming a common surface for pollen tube germination (= synstigma). The synstigma arrangement was quite variable: lax, cohesive or very cohesive, with entanglement by stigmatic papillae and stylar trichomes. Entanglement by stylar trichomes is common in gynodioecious species. The synstigma arrangement did not correlate with phylogeny or breeding system. This study is the first to report a very loose synstigma in actively pollinated monoecious Ficus species. Our analyses revealed that, in Ficus, the synstigma is functionally analogous to an extra-gynoecial compitum. Comparative studies will be required to test further hypotheses about the evolutionary determinants of such variation.

show abstract

Section: Ficus Ulmifolia (Gynodioecious Active)mentioning

confidence: 99%