Pollination and reproductive systems in columbines (Aquilegia, Ranunculaceae) - Review and insights

Autor(en)

Maria von Balthazar, Margarita Lachmayer, Anna-Sophie Hawranek, Constantin Kopper, Jürg Schönenberger, Marion Chartier

Abstrakt

The genus Aquilegia has provided a useful model system for the study of pollination biology, reproductive ecology and evolution, and floral development. In particular, the evolution of nectar spurs is hypothesized to have promoted a rapid radiation in the genus.
Here, we review published studies pertaining to the reproductive biology of 30 of the ca. 130 species of Aquilegia and summarize patterns of autogamy, herkogamy, dichogamy, pollination systems and floral syndromes across species. We also present detailed descriptions of the reproductive ecology for each of the 30 species (appendix).
All tested species of Aquilegia are self-compatible. Dichogamy and herkogamy patterns differ among species and are poorly understood due to a lack of data about stigma function. The majority of Eurasian species studied are pollinated by nectar- and pollen-collecting bumble bees and/or bees, with four species
pollinated by syrphid flies. The European A. paui seems to be mainly autogamous. In North America, pollination by hummingbirds or hawkmoths is frequently associated with secondary pollination by pollen- and/or nectar-collecting bees whose effectiveness is unclear. Pollinator shifts are accompanied by changes in floral traits including spur length, floral color, and flower orientation.
Future research should focus on describing stigma development, morphology, and receptivity, which is needed in most species to document the duration and possible overlap of male and female flowering stages. Additional pollination studies are needed, including quantification of the relative performance of
Aquilegia pollinators. Detailed studies of pollen transfer and outcrossing rates have only been done for a few species, but would greatly help to define whether systems are mixed or specialized and to understand further selective mechanisms involved in the evolution of floral traits and the radiation of the genus.

Organisation(en)

Department für Botanik und Biodiversitätsforschung

Journal

International Journal of Plant Sciences

ISSN

1058-5893

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1086/733070

Publikationsdatum

2024

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

106008 Botanik, 106042 Systematische Botanik, 106012 Evolutionsforschung

Schlagwörter

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/pollination-and-reproductive-systems-in-columbines-aquilegia-ranunculaceae--review-and-insights(5190e7f8-b8b0-4782-a02b-bc0138668039).html