The effects of local variation in light availability on pollinator visitation, pollen and resource limitation of female reproduction in Hosta ventricosa

Guo-Xing Cao,Xu-Jian Xu,Chun-Ping Yang,Bi-Xian Wu,Xie Wang

doi:10.1186/s40529-017-0180-z

Abstract

BackgroundLight availability may have direct effects on reproduction through resource availability, and indirect effects on female reproduction by influencing plant-pollinator interactions. Floral display size, pollinator visitation per flower, resource and pollen limitation of fruit and seed production were quantified in a forested patch and an adjacent open patch of two populations of the perennial herb Hosta ventricosa.ResultsPlants in the open patch produced significantly larger floral displays than those in the forested patch in both populations. Floral display size had a positive effect on pollinator visitation rate per flower in one population, but no effect in the other. Plants in the open patch received approximately 8–11 times more visitation rates and produced significantly more fruit and seeds per flower than those in the forested patch. However, supplemental pollination resulted in significantly more fruit and seed production per flower compared to natural pollination in the forested patch but not in the open patch in one population, and did not enhance fruit and seed production in either the forested or the open patch in the other. In both populations, supplementally pollinated plants in the open patch produced significantly more fruit and seeds per flower than supplementally pollinated plants in the forested patch.ConclusionsIn H. ventricosa, local variation in light conditions could affect pollinator activity and influence female reproduction through resource availability; however differences in the degree of pollen limitation between local habitats were found to be population-specific.

Highlights

Light availability may have direct effects on reproduction through resource availability, and indirect effects on female reproduction by influencing plant-pollinator interactions
Total visitation rate per flower were found to vary with display size (Table 2); there was a positive correlation between visitation rate per flower (Y) and display size (X) in the forested patch (Y = 0.35X − 0.25, R = 0.46, P < 0.001) and in the open patch (Y = 0.42X − 5.98, R = 0.19, P < 0.01)
Effects of local habitat on pollinator visitation Hosta ventricosa racemes in the open patch produced larger floral displays than racemes in the forested patch, a common result reflecting differences in overall plant resource status between patches (Kato and Hiura 1999; Meagher and Delph 2001)

Summary

Introduction

Light availability may have direct effects on reproduction through resource availability, and indirect effects on female reproduction by influencing plant-pollinator interactions. Pollinator visitation per flower, resource and pollen limitation of fruit and seed production were quantified in a forested patch and an adja‐ cent open patch of two populations of the perennial herb Hosta ventricosa. Cao et al Bot Stud (2017) 58:24 can affect the pattern of resources allocated to reproductive components; plants in low light environments have been shown to divert resources away from reproductive components to parts which can increase light capture, such as stems and leaves (McConnaughay and Coleman 1999). As a result of reductions in plant size and/or relative allocation to reproduction, flower and fruit production and the number of seeds that are matured may decrease with decreasing light availability (Niesenbaum 1993; Cunningham 1997; Kato and Hiura 1999; Cao and Kudo 2008)

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Conclusion