Pollination Research Articles

All Populations Matter: Conservation Genomics of Australia’s Iconic Purple Wattle, Acacia purpureopetala

Maximising genetic diversity in conservation efforts can help to increase the chances of survival of a species amidst the turbulence of the anthropogenic age. Here, we define the distribution and extent of genomic diversity across the range of the iconic but threatened Acacia purpureopetala, a beautiful sprawling shrub with mauve flowers, restricted to a few disjunct populations in far north Queensland, Australia. Seed production is poor and germination sporadic, but the species occurs in abundance at some field sites. While several thousands of SNP markers were recovered, comparable to other Acacia species, very low levels of heterozygosity and allelic variation suggested inbreeding. Limited dispersal most likely contributed towards the high levels of divergence amongst field sites and, using a generalised dissimilarity modelling framework amongst environmental, spatial and floristic data, spatial distance was found to be the strongest factor explaining the current distribution of genetic diversity. We illustrate how population genomic data can be utilised to design a collecting strategy for a germplasm conservation collection that optimises genetic diversity. For this species, inclusion of all field sites will capture maximum genetic diversity for both in situ and ex situ conservation. Assisted cross pollination, within and between field sites and genetically structured groups, is recommended to enhance heterozygosity particularly at the most disjunct sites and further fragmentation should be discouraged to avoid loss of genetic connectivity.

Reproductive and pollination biology of the Critically Endangered endemic Campanula vardariana in Western Anatolia (Turkey)

Background and aims – Campanula vardariana (Campanulaceae) is a critically endangered endemic chasmophyte with a single population situated in the west of Turkey. Very little is known about the reproductive biology of C. vardariana and more information is needed to develop a sound conservation strategy for this endemic species.Material and methods – Floral traits such as flower morphology, nectar, and sugar concentration, as well as pollen viability and stigma receptivity were measured in different floral phases. We observed insect visitations to the flowers and identified pollinators. Additionally, we investigated the effect of cross and self-pollination on fruit and seed production.Key results – The flowers of C. vardariana are protandrous. The length of the styles, which were 8.74 mm during the pollen loading phase, reached 11.35 mm during the pollen presentation phase. The visitor observations made on the C. vardariana flowers revealed 11 visitor species from 5 families: 5 Halictidae, 3 Apidae, and one species each from Megachilidae, Colletidae, and Bombyliidae. Lasioglossum spp. touched the anthers and stigma using several parts of their bodies and were significant pollinators of C. vardariana. Under natural conditions, the mean number of seeds per fruit was around 60 after cross pollination, while no fruits were formed when pollinators were excluded.Conclusion – Campanula vardariana is entirely dependent on pollinators for its reproductive success, and bees, especially Halictidae and to a lesser extent Apidae, play an important role. Campanula vardariana is restricted to cracks in calcareous rocks and its population is threatened by goat overgrazing and mining activities (quarry formation). Since seed production is abundant in this population, anthropogenic activities currently form the biggest threat to its existence.

Aegilops tauschii Coss. molecular phylogeny: nuclear gene Got2 versus chloroplast DNA data

Aegilops tauschii Coss. phylogenetic tree based on DNA sequences of nuclear gene Got2, about 3000 b.p., studied in 114 accessions of the species was constructed and compared with the tree previously built using non-coding chloroplast DNA (cpDNA), about 3000 b.p. in total, in 111 Ae. tauschii accessions. (110 accessions are the same on both trees.) The two trees differ greatly, implying that despite of Ae. tauschii being mostly self-pollinating species, cross pollination played an important role in the species evolutionary history. Got2 tree rather well corresponds to Ae. tauschii intraspecies systematics based on spike morphology, while cpDNA tree is in contradiction with this systematics. Ae. tauschii phylogeographic patterns essentially differ in Ae. tauschii subsp. tauschii and Ae. tauschii subsp. strangulata. As revealed by Got2 DNA data, subsp. strangulata presents five major common phylogenetic lineages sharing the subspecies range between each other, and minor relict lineages in addition. Subspecies tauschii presents single major lineage occupying all the subspecies range, and additional relict lineages.

Diverse large lepidopteran pollinators promote the naturalisation of Crinum asiaticum in invaded and disturbed habitats, despite apparent floral specialisation

Crinum asiaticum is phenotypically specialised with white, scented, very long-tubed flowers, suggesting that only long-proboscid hawkmoths may be effective pollinators. However, this species has frequently escaped cultivation in many tropical and subtropical regions. We therefore investigated the reproductive biology of C. asiaticum to understand how it is able to naturalise, despite phenotypic specialisation. We examined the ability for autonomous selfing and reliance on sexual versus vegetative reproduction in C. asiaticum var. sinicum, using a group individuals growing and propagating naturally in a suburban botanical garden. We also analysed the floral syndrome, recorded floral visitors, determined the pollination effectiveness of floral visitors, and reviewed records of floral visitors at different observation sites. Sexual reproduction provides a much greater potential for dispersal than vegetative reproduction in C. asiaticum var. sinicum. This plant does not perform autonomous selfing and shows poor self-compatibility. The floral syndrome strongly points to long-proboscid hawkmoth pollination, whereas both hawkmoths and swallowtail butterflies with varied tongue lengths were observed as floral visitors because the nectar can accumulate to high levels and therefore fills the majority or all of the perianth tube. Both butterflies and hawkmoths effectively deposited pollen on stigmas. Thus, natural propagation should be attributed to sufficient cross pollination by local lepidopterans. Our findings suggest that autonomous selfing and vegetative reproduction may not be necessary for naturalisation and long-term persistence of plant populations in highly disturbed habitats or new ranges, even if the plants exhibit an extremely specialised floral syndrome.

Flies’ pollinating prowess, and arsenic’s insidious effects

Flies’ pollinating prowess, and arsenic’s insidious effects

Optimum design of cantilever retaining walls under seismic loads using a hybrid TLBO algorithm

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of the proposed hybrid teaching-learning based optimization algorithm on the optimum design of reinforced concrete (RC) cantilever retaining walls. For this purpose, three different design examples are optimized with 100 independent runs considering continuous and discrete variables. In order to determine the algorithm performance, the optimization results were compared with the outcomes of the nine powerful meta-heuristic algorithms applied to this problem, previously: the big bang-big crunch (BB-BC), the biogeography based optimization (BBO), the flower pollination (FPA), the grey wolf optimization (GWO), the harmony search (HS), the particle swarm optimization (PSO), the teaching-learning based optimization (TLBO), the jaya (JA), and Rao-3 algorithms. Moreover, Rao-1 and Rao-2 algorithms are applied to this design problem for the first time. The objective function is defined as minimizing the total material and labor costs including concrete, steel, and formwork per unit length of the cantilever retaining walls subjected to the requirements of the American Concrete Institute (ACI 318-05). Furthermore, the effects of peak ground acceleration value on minimum total cost is investigated using various stem height, surcharge loads, and backfill slope angle. Finally, the most robust results were obtained by HTLBO with 50 populations. Consequently the optimization results show that, depending on the increase in PGA value, the optimum cost of RC cantilever retaining walls increases smoothly with the stem height but increases rapidly with the surcharge loads and backfill slope angle.

Bioecological and Behavioral Interaction between Pollinating Bees and the Pioneer Shrub Ludwigia nervosa in Degraded Area Suggests an Exotic Bee as Its Major Pollinator.

Simple SummaryLudwigia nervosa plants are commonly found in humid environments in the process of regeneration; however, little is known about reproductive contribution to attracting bees in fragmented environments. Therefore, we aimed to identify the bees visiting the flowers, and whether during pollen and/or nectar collection they performed pollination. The absence of pollen limitation shows that there was sufficient and efficient deposition of pollen in L. nervosa flowers during the visit, guaranteeing the formation of larger fruits and seeds with high germinative potential.The flowers of plants of the genus Ludwigia are an important source of food for several species of bees. In the current study, we conducted an experiment with the aim to describe the reproductive biology and phenology of L. nervosa; to identify the species of visiting bees; analyze the foraging behavior of bees; and to investigate whether the reproductive success of the species is related to the foraging activity of bees. We found that the flowers received visits from several native bee species (n = 7), in addition of the exotic honey bees which came to be the dominant species. During visits the majority of the bees foraged in both resources, pollen and nectar. The significantly higher production of fruits in open pollinated pollination experiment compared to artificial cross pollination, suggests honey bees as effective pollinator of this plant species in the study site. Pollen deposition occurs efficiently, given the absence of pollen limitation. Despite massive visitation of honey bees, Ludwigia nervosa is attractive to native bees, and therefore it may help to sustain population of both native and exotic pollinators in fragmented humid areas.

Cross pollination of different peony cultivars with ‘Feng dan’

ABSTRACT: Paeonia ostii ‘Feng dan’ is recommended as a new promising oil crop because of the nutrient elements in its seed; however, the development of this new oil crop is now limited due to its low seed setting rate. This study identified ways to improve the cross pollination of Feng dan as the maternal parent, which has been proved to be a suitable oil crop, so as to improve the seed setting rate of ‘Feng dan’, and to predict the functional relationship between pollen vigor and seed setting rate. improving the efficiency of cross pollination. Three major steps were conducted, first, to screen the appropriate method of measuring pollen vigor of the paternal parent, which could have a strong relationship with seed setting rate. Second, to obtain the corresponding seed setting rate by cross pollination. Third, the functional relationship between two indexes was founded which could be used in cross pollination practice. Results indicated that the best paternal parents of ‘Feng dan’ were ‘Feng dan’ cultivars from other different cultivation populations; The most suitable medium concentration for pollen germination was 100~150 g/L sucrose, 0.06~0.08 g/L boric acid, and 50~200 g/L PEG-6000. Both the seed setting rate and the number of seed grains were positively correlated with the pollen activity, and the seed setting rate was negatively correlated with the local precipitation.

Pollination mix: honeybees and bumblebees as possible pollinators for Pyrus communis ‘Conference’

Pollination mix: honeybees and bumblebees as possible pollinators for <i>Pyrus communis</i> ‘Conference’

Cross Pollination's Nomadic Laboratory: a praxis in-between practices

ABSTRACT This collaborative writing presents the ways in which practitioner-researchers from Cross Pollination (CP), an international arts research platform with a focus on knowledge exchange, create nomadic and temporary laboratory spaces. It is argued that the encounter between different experiences of performative craft generates epistemic insights that enable members of the platform to rearticulate their practices through the reterritorialization of specialized techniques. Furthermore, the article discusses how an ethos of companionship may appear through dialogical and horizontal practices, contributing to a renewal of the theatre laboratory.

Reproductive Biology of Astragalus argaeus (Fabaceae), a critically endangered endemic species.

Astragalus argaeus is an endemic plant species that is under critical risk of extinction. Here we investigated its population census, breeding system and reproductive success to determine the main factors affecting restricted distribution of this species. According to the results from pollination experiments, A. argaeus was autogamous but benefit from the cross pollination (xenogamous) and the presence of pollinators increases fruit set. The pollen/ovule ratio of A. argaeus was calculated as 3119,which correspond to facultative xenogamy. Reproduction biology data obtained by both methods are quite compatible with each other. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity data showed that both stigma receptivity and pollen viability were high and was no temporal isolation throughout the anthesis. Seed viability of A. argaues was determined as 52%. The low reproductive success of the species could be attributed to low seed viability and germination rates, small population size and variations in season and climate.

Passerine birds supporting cross pollination in Erythrina stricta Roxb.

Erythina stricta is an ecologically important tree species in the rainforests of India and its nectar within the flowers contributes to birds’ diet and survival. Reports on the pollination of this species have not been published so far. We therefore explore the reproductive system of this tree species which has great significance to its ecosystem. Birds have an important role in the reproduction of trees through pollination particularly in tropical areas where reproductive success mostly depends on animal pollinator interactions. Study of visitation and nectar feeding behaviour of birds along with breeding system assessment of Erythina stricta. Birds visiting and foraging behaviour was observed during Erythrina stricta flowering season in an indian tropical rainforest. Reproductive system was assessed through controlled pollination experiments. Thirteen bird species were recorded visiting and foraging nectar from the flowers of Erythrina stricta. The maximum numbers of visits recorded were from the Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer, Pycnonotidae). The nectar feeding birds were, either (i) potential pollinator with long bills (e.g. Pycnonotus spp., Chloropsis aurifrons, and Dicrurus spp.) or (ii) nectar robbers with comparatively shorter bills (e.g. Zosterops palpebrosa, Stachyris ruficeps, Macronous gularis, Heterophasia glaciris). Controlled pollination experiments revealed high degree of cross pollination (xenogamy) and self-incompatibility in E. stricta. Birds were more frequent in early mornings and their foraging activity was also observed during evening hours; the frequency however, declined with respect to nectar availability. Long corolla tubes of E. stricta could restrict access to nectar collecting bees.

Gene Transformation of Alfalfa Plants (Medicago varia L.) DomesticCultivar andlsquo;Burgaltaiandrsquo; for Increasing Leaf Size

‘Burgaltai’ cultivar of alfalfa is the most important forage in Mongolia and its yield had decreasing last decades due to cross pollination. This study was conducted for increasing leaf size of ‘Burgaltai’ cultivar through Agrobacterium mediated genetic transformation transferring growth regulating factor AtGRF2 gene of Arabidopsis thaliana. In vitro regeneration was derived from seven day old hypocotyl and cotyledon explants for callus induction. Induced calli were used for shoot induction and proliferation. Proliferated shoots carried to root induction medium. The best calli induction medium was MSB5 (Murashige Skoog’s medium with Gamborg’s vitamin) medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 2,4-D, 0.2 mg/L BAP and 1 mg/L NAA, shoot induction and proliferation media from calli were MSB5 medium supplemented with 1mg/L BAP, 0.1 mg/L NAA, proliferated shoots were rooted on half strength MSB5 medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L NAA. For the genetic transformation, hypocotyl explants used as an initial source. Totally 235 explants were tested to transformation and 30 explants (12.7%) were resistant to hygromycin antibiotics and regenerate plantlets. Plantlets were transferred to the soil and fresh young leaf used for GUS histochemical assay and RT-PCR for confirmation. Among them fully regenerated seven independent transgenic plantlets (T6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 22) were confirmed. Transgenic ‘Burgaltai’ cv. of alfalfa leaf size was increased by 0.7 cm2 comparing to the wild type. T6 and 11 lines showed 3:1 segregation ratio in T1 progenies (X2=0.04-0.42, p ≤ 0.52-0.84).

Effect of altitudinal variation on floral morphology in Valeriana jatamansi, a critically endangered medicinal plant of north east Himalayan region

Countless medicinal plants are endemic to Indian Himalayan region. Over exploitation of Valeriana jatamansi for its rhizome these species are now came under endangered species. Rhizomes and roots of this species have secondary metabolite like valerenic acid and valepotriates that can cure obesity, skin diseases, epilepsy, insanity and snake poisoning etc. Present research deals with the flower morphological trait study over control Kalimpong environment with four lower altitude exposed treatments. From the independent sample t test it has been cleared that the flower diameter has been gradually decreased in the exposure of lower altitude. Moreover length of style was found to be of highest value for control K plants. Research findings visibly indicated that alternate exposure of higher and lower altitude gives a significant impact on anther size. From these findings it may be concluded that lower altitude exposure enhance cross pollination and there is a positive correlation of petal breadth over the maximum flower diameter.

Passerine birds supporting cross pollination in Erythrina stricta Roxb.

Erythina stricta is an ecologically important tree species in the rainforests of India and its nectar within the flowers contributes to birds’ diet and survival. Reports on the pollination of this species have not been published so far. We therefore explore the reproductive system of this tree species which has great significance to its ecosystem. Birds have an important role in the reproduction of trees through pollination particularly in tropical areas where reproductive success mostly depends on animal pollinator interactions. Study of visitation and nectar feeding behaviour of birds along with breeding system assessment of Erythina stricta. Birds visiting and foraging behaviour was observed during Erythrina stricta flowering season in an indian tropical rainforest. Reproductive system was assessed through controlled pollination experiments. Thirteen bird species were recorded visiting and foraging nectar from the flowers of Erythrina stricta. The maximum numbers of visits recorded were from the Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer, Pycnonotidae). The nectar feeding birds were, either (i) potential pollinator with long bills (e.g. Pycnonotus spp., Chloropsis aurifrons, and Dicrurus spp.) or (ii) nectar robbers with comparatively shorter bills (e.g. Zosterops palpebrosa, Stachyris ruficeps, Macronous gularis, Heterophasia glaciris). Controlled pollination experiments revealed high degree of cross pollination (xenogamy) and self-incompatibility in E. stricta. Birds were more frequent in early mornings and their foraging activity was also observed during evening hours; the frequency however, declined with respect to nectar availability. Long corolla tubes of E. stricta could restrict access to nectar collecting bees.

The Preliminary Study on Effects of Pollinating Insects in Canola (Brassica napus L.) Production

Although canola (Brassica napus L.) plants are mainly self-pollinating, the cross pollination by insect increases yield. The study was carried out at Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Menemen/Izmir in 2016/2017 growing season. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block with three replications. The treatments consisted of caged with honeybee, caged with bombus, caged without bees and open pollination. 96% of the collected insects from open pollination plots were honeybees. It was determined that flowering period significantly shortened (5.8 days) in plots with bee compared with caged without bee, while seed number per pod (4.6), thousand seed weight (0.25 g), seed yield (1398 kg ha-1), oil yield (776 kg ha-1) and oil rate (1.24%) increased. Also, the contents of erucic acid and glucosinolate level resulted in an increase by pollinator visit. It was concluded that pollination by insect affected yield, yield components and composition of fatty acid in canola. The results of this preliminary study should be supported by the research findings from multi locations and years.

Variación morfológica de estructuras reproductivas de las Solanaceae en el Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén (Perú)

Morphological variation of reproductive structures of the Solanaceae in the Yanachaga- Chemillen National Park (Peru). This study analyzes the presence and variation of floral features in species of the Solanaceae family in three localities of the Yanachaga-Chemillen National Park (Peru) during the rainy season from Feb–Mar of 2009. The morphometric data collection of the flowers and fruits of 280 individuals, belonging to 47 species, collected in the towns of Paujil (400 m), Tunqui (1900 m) and San Daniel (2400 m) was analyzed. The quantitative data was analyzed using Spearman’s simple correlation, while for the qualitative data, a descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The analysis of the quantitative data indicates that there are statistically significant variation in the size of certain flower structures, which have a moderate negative correlation with their altitudinal distribution, these variables are the length of the corolla tube (p = 0.000358) and the style (p = 0.00060). Within the qualitative data it was observed that the color of the flowers presents a variation according to the altitude, where the white color has a greater predominance in the Tunqui and San Daniel localities located at 1900 m and 2400 m respectively, while the yellow flowers are more common in Paujil at 450 m. Additionally, it was found that the greatest diversity of species and the greatest variability of the reproductive characters analyzed were registered at 2400 m of altitude. Variations and predominance of reproductive characteristics could be related to the different types of pollinators for species in this family.

Effectiveness of different sampling schemes in predicting adventitious genetically modified maize content in a smallholder farming system

ABSTRACT When genetically modified (GM) maize is planted in an open field, it may cross-pollinate with the nearby non-GM maize under certain airflow conditions. Suitable sampling methods are crucial for tracing adventitious GM content. By using field data and bootstrap simulation, we evaluated the performance of common sampling schemes to determine the adventitious GM content in small maize fields in Taiwan. A pollen dispersal model that considered the effect of field borders, which are common in Asian agricultural landscapes, was used to predict the cross-pollination (CP) rate. For the 2009–1 field data, the six-transect (Tsix), JM method for low expected flow (JM[L]), JM method for high expected flow (JM[H]), and V-shaped transect (TV) methods performed comparably to simple random sampling (SRS). Tsix, TV, JM(L), and JM(H) required only 13% or less of the sample size required by SRS. After the simulation and verification of the 2009–2 and 2010–1 field data, we concluded that Tsix, TV, JM(L), and systematic random sampling methods performed equally as well as SRS in CP rate predictions. Our findings can serve as a reference for monitoring the pollen dispersal tendencies of maize in countries with smallholder farming systems.

Pollinators necessary for the reproductive success of critically endangered mangrove, Sonneratia griffithii

• The mangrove, Sonneratia griffithii, is critically endangered. • S. griffithii has inbreeding depression observed thru low reproductive output. • S. griffithii is dependent on pollinators for reproductive success. • Macroglossus minimus and Eonycteris spelaea bats visit S. griffithii flowers. • Mangrove and cave protection with corridors for pollinators is recommended. Mangrove forests provide numerous ecosystem services, yet are disappearing rapidly. One such mangrove species negatively affected by deforestation and land conversion is Sonneratia griffithii , a critically endangered but under-studied species. To understand its reproductive biology, we conducted a pollination experiment and observed flower visitors that potentially pollinate this mangrove species. All experimental treatments (open pollination, insect pollination, hand-cross pollination, hand-self pollination, and spontaneous autogamy) produced fruit set to varying degrees. Results suggest that S. griffithii is suffering from inbreeding depression, as trees set few fruits even in the hand-cross (25 %) and hand-self (18 %) pollination treatments. Results also suggest that the species is dependent on pollinators, since the open (22 %) and insect pollination (18 %) treatments set 3 times as many fruits as the spontaneous autogamy treatment (6 %). Two bat species were mist-netted near S. griffithii flowers: Macroglossus minimus and Eonycteris spelaea . To protect this mangrove species, we recommend encouraging cross pollination by bats through local area and pollinator protection, as well as creating corridors between mangrove forest patches.

Kierkegaard and Marx: Concurrences for a More Harmonious Life

These are dark days in Europe, in both developed and developing countries in the Western world. Our human condition and our survival as a species are endangered, under attack from multiples fronts (economic, political, social, moral, among others). The neo-liberalism and free trade of the last 40 years have proven to be less than effective in achieving the type of development that brings benefits, equity and sustainability to the populations that live in the region. Far from it, this development model has fostered social injustice, an unprecedented polarization of processes, growing concentrations of wealth, political and financial power in the hands of the very few, and above all, a monopolistic power wielded by a tiny elite over a wide range of activities that affect the fate of millions of human beings. We believe that a review of the ideas and the cross pollination that connects the thinkers that have inspired this year’s conference-- Søren Kierkegaard and Karl Marx—can serve to set up a complex critical scaffolding for understanding the tendencies that underlie these developments, estimating their historical weight and characterizing their neo-totalitarian or transpersonal ramifications for the 21st century. In fact, we contend that in an extensive and profound sense, the critique that Kierkegaard made of his times (1846) with regard to the bourgeois Christian world comes ironically close to the Marxist critique of the bourgeois capitalist world (1847). This represents a relevant convergence that can shed light on the future consequences of current developments and help to find feasible solutions for preventing or counteracting their negative impact on the majority over the medium and long terms.