A Comparative Study on the Pollination Mechanism of <I>Anisodus luridus</I> and <I>A. carniolicoides</I> (Solanaceae)

Abstract

Empirical studies comparing mating systems and pollination mechanisms in closely related species within one genus will help us to better understand the evolution of plant mating system . In the present study , we performed field experiments on Anisodus luridus and A. carniolicoides , attempting to explore the evolution of self-compatibility and pollinator shift in the genus Anisodus . Our results showed that both A. luridus and A. carniolicoides were fully self-compatible , but the seed number and fruit set of the netted flowers without emasculation were significantly lower than the intact control flowers subjected to open pollination , indicating the two species only had a weak ability of autonomous selfing . Seed production with supplemental pollen was greatly enhanced compared with natural flowers , suggesting pollen limitation in both species . Vespula rufarufa and Dolichovespula saxonica . were the most frequent pollinators of A. luridus and A. carniolicoides , respectively . While other floral visitors , including bumblebees , flies and ants , accounted for the minority of visitation in the two species . The number of pollen grains deposited on stigmas of intact flowers within one day was significantly higher than emasculated flowers in A. carniolicoides , but not in A. luridus . Therefore , visitations of D . saxonica to A. carniolicoides 云 南 植 物 研 究 2009 , 31 (3) : 211~218 Acta Botanica Yunnanica DOI : 10 .3724�SP. J . 1143 .2009.08198