Abstract
Endemic and relict species are of particular interest when evaluating the ecological intactness of a given area. In this paper, the reproductive ecology of Seseli ghafoorianum (Apiaceae) is investigated, aiming to contribute to its protection. The species is considered as a Tertiary relict species in Iran. Both dwarf form and cliff habitats are rare in the family, raising the question of how the plant has adapted to this environment. Population structure, plant architecture and flowering sequence, pollinators, pollen quantification, and seed set (bagging experiment) were investigated. Individuals produce about 20 flowering branches with ca. 120 umbels. Flowers and umbels are protandrous. The female stage of the terminal umbels usually overlaps the maleness of the 1st order umbels promoting geitonogamy. The pollen/ovule ratio is about 30,000:1, indicating outcrossing. The degree of andromonoecy (>70%) and pollen vitality (~90%) indicate that pollen availability is not a limiting factor. In contrast, fruit set is low (~7%). It depends on the presence of pollinators (Lasioglossum), which is low, most likely due to the use of pesticides. The population furthermore suffers from the low survival rate of seedlings (0.02%). S. ghafoorianum appears to be an outcrossing species suffering from low pollinator and survival rates. To protect the species, use of pesticides and grazing should be reduced.
Highlights
Breeding systems are studied to identify evolutionary trends in plant sexual reproduction and pollination systems (Igic and Kohn, 2006; Shuster, 2009; Goodwillie et al, 2010; Karron et al, 2012; Barrett, 2014)
The present study focuses on S. ghafoorianum, suggested as an Arcto-Tertiary relict species
On first view, S. ghafoorianum is a typical Apiaceae species with umbels composed of umbellets, synchronized protandry, promiscuous pollination, a high P/O ratio indicating xenogamy and andromonoecy with increasing maleness, and about 70% male flowers (Bell and Lindsey, 1978; Reuther and Claßen-Bockhoff, 2010)
Summary
Breeding systems are studied to identify evolutionary trends in plant sexual reproduction and pollination systems (Igic and Kohn, 2006; Shuster, 2009; Goodwillie et al, 2010; Karron et al, 2012; Barrett, 2014). In the case of endemic and threatened species, knowledge on pollen and/or pollinator limitation, fruit set, and germination rate is used to evaluate the factors possibly threatening the population with risk of extinction (Schemske et al, 1994). If the fitness of a plant is reduced, one needs to know the role of habitat fragmentation and abiotic and biotic interactions of plant individuals to maintain the population by conservation activities. This is the subject of the present paper dealing with Seseli ghafoorianum (Akhani) Pimenov & Kljuykov. Endangered and endemic species are investigated (Davila and Wardle, 2002; Evans et al, 2003; Gaudeul and TillBottraud, 2004; Rovira et al, 2004; Marcinko and Randall, 2008; Cursach and Rita, 2012), but species living in cliff
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