Abstract
<p>Pollen limitation is considered to be a strong force driving the evolution of reproductive strategies in flowering plants. However, resource reallocation may occur among seeds because of variation in the quantity or quality of pollen received. We performed single-flower and whole-plant pollen supplementation and emasculation of flowers of <em>Apocynum venetum</em> L. to estimate pollen limitation and reproductive assurance. In addition, we calculated the visiting patterns of the pollinators, frequency of pollinators to estimate the effect of pollinator activity and further on the reproductive success of <em>A. venetum</em>. Our results indicated estimates from single-flower manipulations were not biased, closely resembling those from whole-plant manipulations. We found<em> Apis mellifera</em> was the dominant pollinator during the pollination process. In addition, insect pollination played a more important role in the outcrossing system, which could explain the differences in reproductive success. Our results also showed that autonomous self-pollination eliminates pollen limitation and provides reproductive assurance.</p>
Highlights
In the past three decades, a handful studies have found a large proportion of flowers within a plant don’t develop into fruits and seeds (Lloyd, 1980; Sutherland & Delph, 1984)
Pollen supplementation did significantly increase the seed set according to the comparison of flowers between the PA and C treatments (P < 0.05; Table 1)
The results of the PL indices indicated that pollen limitation was more severe in the whole-plant manipulations (PLc = 0.516 ± 0.031) than in the single-flower manipulations (PLc = 0.476 ± 0.026), but there was no significant difference between manipulations (P > 0.05)
Summary
In the past three decades, a handful studies have found a large proportion of flowers within a plant don’t develop into fruits and seeds (Lloyd, 1980; Sutherland & Delph, 1984). Pollen limitation is considered to be the dominate force driving the evolution of pollination strategies and reproductive success (Lloyd, 1992; Maurice & Fleming, 1995; Ashman et al, 2004). A decrease in potential plant reproduction due to inadequate pollen receipt, is ubiquitous across Angiosperms (Ashman et al, 2004; Knight et al, 2005). Many empirical studies indicate the evolutionary outcome of pollen limitation is the evolution of self-fertilization because selfing elevates seed production and provides reproductive assurance in poor pollination environments (Baker, 1955; Jain, 1976; Morgan & Wilson, 2005)
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