Flower longevity and duration of pistil receptivity in high mountain plants

Steinacher, Gerlinde; Wagner, Johanna

doi:10.1016/j.flora.2009.12.012

Cited by 47 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…montanum for a more normal year, increases that number. Additionally, Steinacher & Wagner [18] found no altitudinal increase in potential flower longevity for a comparison of different species drawn from the alpine and nival-subnival zones in the European Alps. Overall, although the sample size is still very small, there seems to be relatively little evidence for an altitudinal increase in potential flower longevity measured in pollinator-excluded flowers in comparison for flower longevity measured in open-pollinated flowers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, pollination rates decline with decreasing temperatures and more unpredictable weather conditions at higher altitudes [1–11]. Second, flower longevity often increases with altitude [5,6,12–17], there being outstanding cases of nival plants with extremely long-lived stigmas [18,19]. The above two trends are considered to be functionally linked, with longer-lived flowers compensating for lower pollination rates at higher elevations [5,6,13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plastic Responses Contribute to Explaining Altitudinal and Temporal Variation in Potential Flower Longevity in High Andean Rhodolirion montanum

et al. 2016

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The tendency for flower longevity to increase with altitude is believed by many alpine ecologists to play an important role in compensating for low pollination rates at high altitudes due to cold and variable weather conditions. However, current studies documenting an altitudinal increase in flower longevity in the alpine habitat derive principally from studies on open-pollinated flowers where lower pollinator visitation rates at higher altitudes will tend to lead to flower senescence later in the life-span of a flower in comparison with lower altitudes, and thus could confound the real altitudinal pattern in a species´ potential flower longevity. In a two-year study we tested the hypothesis that a plastic effect of temperature on flower longevity could contribute to an altitudinal increase in potential flower longevity measured in pollinator-excluded flowers in high Andean Rhodolirium montanum Phil. (Amaryllidaceae). Using supplemental warming we investigated whether temperature around flowers plastically affects potential flower longevity. We determined tightly temperature-controlled potential flower longevity and flower height for natural populations on three alpine sites spread over an altitudinal transect from 2350 and 3075 m a.s.l. An experimental increase of 3.1°C around flowers significantly decreased flower longevity indicating a plastic response of flowers to temperature. Flower height in natural populations decreased significantly with altitude. Although temperature negatively affects flower longevity under experimental conditions, we found no evidence that temperature around flowers explains site variation in flower longevity over the altitudinal gradient. In a wetter year, despite a 3.5°C temperature difference around flowers at the extremes of the altitudinal range, flower longevity showed no increase with altitude. However, in a drier year, flower longevity increased significantly with altitude. The emerging picture suggests an increase in flower longevity along the altitudinal gradient is less common for potential flower longevity than for open-pollination flower longevity. Independently of any selection that may occur on potential longevity, plastic responses of flowers to environmental conditions are likely to contribute to altitudinal variation in flower longevity, especially in dry alpine areas. Such plastic responses could push flowers of alpine species towards shorter life-lengths under climate change, with uncertain consequences for successful pollination and plant fitness in a warming world.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic Responses Contribute to Explaining Altitudinal and Temporal Variation in Potential Flower Longevity in High Andean Rhodolirion montanum

et al. 2016

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“…Longevity of a flower determines the probability and time that it will be visited. Longevity is also an important floral trait that influences the plant reproduction (Primack, 1985;Ashman and Schoen, 1994;Steinacher and Wagner, 2010). The flower of S. chamaejasme can last three to four days even after its functions were lost or became weak (Fig.…”

Section: Floral Traits and Successful Pollinationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reproductive biology of Stellera chamaejasme (Thymelaeaceae): A self-incompatible weed with specialized flowers

Zhang

Sun

2011

Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants

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“…Likewise, prolonged floral longevity can compensate for a low rate of pollinator visitation (Barrett 2003) and can be seen as an evolutionary strategy to overcome a sparse or unpredictable pollinator service (Steinacher & Wagner 2010). In line with this, Darling & Barrett (2011) showed that flowers with longer exposure times had greater chances to be visited by pollinators, as well as a higher reproductive success.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Can the reproductive system of a rare and narrowly endemic plant species explain its high genetic diversity?

et al. 2018

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Th e reproductive system of fl owering plants can be highly variable, aff ecting their biology, gene fl ow and genetic variability among populations. Petunia secreta is a rare annual endemic species of Pedra do Segredo, located in the municipality of Caçapava do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Although rare, the species possesses a high level of genetic variability. We investigated the reproductive system of P. secreta, including fruit production and seed germinability, in order to determine if its reproductive system can explain its genetic diversity. We sampled fi ve populations and conducted fi ve greenhouse hand-pollination treatments: 1) autonomous apomixis; 2) self-pollination; 3) hand self-pollination; 4) geitonogamy; and 5) cross-pollination. We analysed a total of 40 plants, 468 fl owers, and 6,500 seeds. Only autonomous apomixis and self-pollination did not produce fruit. No diff erences in fruit weight were observed among pollination treatments (P > 0.05). Seeds of two colours were produced, with no diff erences in germinability. Considering all plants, populations, and treatments, the average germinability was 73 % (range 9 % to 100 %). Th ese results, along with other previous studies, indicate that the reproductive systems of P. secreta, and its large eff ective population size, can explain its high genetic diversity.

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Flower longevity and duration of pistil receptivity in high mountain plants

Cited by 47 publications

References 43 publications

Plastic Responses Contribute to Explaining Altitudinal and Temporal Variation in Potential Flower Longevity in High Andean Rhodolirion montanum

Plastic Responses Contribute to Explaining Altitudinal and Temporal Variation in Potential Flower Longevity in High Andean Rhodolirion montanum

The reproductive biology of Stellera chamaejasme (Thymelaeaceae): A self-incompatible weed with specialized flowers

Can the reproductive system of a rare and narrowly endemic plant species explain its high genetic diversity?

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