INVESTIGADORES
SOLIS NEFFA viviana Griselda
artículos
Título:
The cytological origin of the polyads and their significance in the reproductive biology of Mimosa bimucronata (DC) O. Kuntze.
Autor/es:
SEIJO, J. G.; VIVIANA GRISELDA SOLIS NEFFA
Revista:
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society
Referencias:
Año: 2004 vol. 144 p. 343 - 349
ISSN:
0024-4074
Resumen:
The mechanism of polyad formation in Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) Kuntze is described and its significance in the reproductive biology is discussed. In this species c. 500 complexes of two coupled pollen mother cells (PMCs) per pollen sac are formed after the last mitotic division of the sporogenous tissue. All the pollen grains of each complex remain attached and form a bitetrad. This mechanism leads to the formation of many polyads per pollen sac. On this basis, we propose that in Mimosa the number of pollen grains per polyad (eight or 16) is determined by the number of cells that remain attached after the last mitotic divisions of the sporogenous tissue. Concerning the biological significance of the polyads in M. bimucronata, we find that the number of pollen grains per polyad is correlated with the number of ovules per ovary, and that the internal dimensions of the pit-shaped stigma are sufficient just for one polyad to be localized in it. Based on the number of polyads per flower this species has a high pollen/ovule ratio characteristic of xenogamous plants, in opposition to that expected for plants with composite pollen dispersal units. In contrast, it has low pollination efficiency, low fruit set, a 1/1 relationship between the pollen grains of a polyad and the number of ovules per ovary, and high seed set per fruit. These facts support the hypothesis that the occurrence of polyads in M. bimucronata would be an adaptation helping to ensure high seed set following a single cross pollination event.Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) Kuntze is described and its significance in the reproductive biology is discussed. In this species c. 500 complexes of two coupled pollen mother cells (PMCs) per pollen sac are formed after the last mitotic division of the sporogenous tissue. All the pollen grains of each complex remain attached and form a bitetrad. This mechanism leads to the formation of many polyads per pollen sac. On this basis, we propose that in Mimosa the number of pollen grains per polyad (eight or 16) is determined by the number of cells that remain attached after the last mitotic divisions of the sporogenous tissue. Concerning the biological significance of the polyads in M. bimucronata, we find that the number of pollen grains per polyad is correlated with the number of ovules per ovary, and that the internal dimensions of the pit-shaped stigma are sufficient just for one polyad to be localized in it. Based on the number of polyads per flower this species has a high pollen/ovule ratio characteristic of xenogamous plants, in opposition to that expected for plants with composite pollen dispersal units. In contrast, it has low pollination efficiency, low fruit set, a 1/1 relationship between the pollen grains of a polyad and the number of ovules per ovary, and high seed set per fruit. These facts support the hypothesis that the occurrence of polyads in M. bimucronata would be an adaptation helping to ensure high seed set following a single cross pollination event.