Baobabs (Adansonia digitata L.) are self-incompatible and ‘male’ trees can produce fruit if hand-pollinated

Venter, Sarah M.; Glennon, Kelsey L.; Witkowski, E.T.F.; Baum, David A.; Cron, G.V.; Tivakudze, R.; Karimi, Nisa

doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2017.01.007

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The genus Adansonia is named after Michel Adanson who brought baobab seeds to Paris in 1754 and who was the first person to provide a comprehensive description and drawing of the tree after his visit to Senegal 5 , 6 . Despite having hermaphrodite flowers, A. digitata is mainly self-incompatible 7 . This majestic tree, known as the “Tree of Life”, is deciduous, reaching up to 20–25 m in height and 20 m in trunk diameter 1 , 2 , 8 and living for hundreds or even thousands of years 9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New chromosome number and cyto-molecular characterization of the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) - “The Tree of Life”

Islam‐Faridi

Sakhanokho

Nelson

2020

Sci Rep

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new chromosome number and cyto-molecular characterization of the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)-"the tree of Life" nurul islam-faridi 1,5* , Hamidou F. Sakhanokho 2,5 & c. Dana nelson 3,4 the African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.), also referred to as the "Tree of Life", is a majestic, longlived and multipurpose tree of sub-Saharan Africa. Internationally, a growing demand for baobab products in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries has been observed. Considering this, there is a need for scientific information on the genetics and breeding of A. digitata, including cytogenetics, genetic diversity and reproductive biology. The objectives of our cytogenetic research were to determine the genome size, chromosome number, and organization of ribosomal DNA (45S and 5SrDNA) of A. digitata. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a 2C-DNA value of 3.8 ± 0.6 pg (1Cx monoploid genome size 919.1 ± 62.9 Mbp). Using our improved chromosome preparation technique, we were able to unequivocally count the chromosomes resulting in 2n = 4x = 168, a revised chromosome number for A. digitata. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed two massively large variants of 45S rDNA and their corresponding nucleolus organizer regions (NOR). The NOR variants were about two to four times larger than the main body of their respective chromosomes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this phenomenon in a plant species. Furthermore, we found that FISH analysis using the Arabidopsis-type telomere repeat sequence probe clarified and confirmed the new chromosome number and characterized the 45S rDNA structural organization. The African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is the largest and best known of the eight Adansonia species and reported to be native to mainland Africa 1-3. It is widespread throughout the hot, drier regions of tropical Africa, extending from northern Tanzania and Namibia to Ethiopia, Sudan, and the northern fringes of the Sahara 1. Adansonia digitata is often referred to by its vernacular name, baobab, which is believed to originate from the Arabic word "buhibab" or "fruit with many seeds" 4,5. The genus Adansonia is named after Michel Adanson who brought baobab seeds to Paris in 1754 and who was the first person to provide a comprehensive description and drawing of the tree after his visit to Senegal 5,6. Despite having hermaphrodite flowers, A. digitata is mainly selfincompatible 7. This majestic tree, known as the "Tree of Life", is deciduous, reaching up to 20-25 m in height and 20 m in trunk diameter 1,2,8 and living for hundreds or even thousands of years 9. A recent radiocarbon dating 10 study estimated the age of the Glencoe baobab tree located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa to be about 1,800 years 11. The baobab is a multipurpose tree that is extensively used for both its nutritional and medicinal values. Virtually, every part of the baobab tree is useful, and the "Tree of Life" lives up to its name as it is reported to have

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New chromosome number and cyto-molecular characterization of the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) - “The Tree of Life”

Islam‐Faridi

Sakhanokho

Nelson

2020

Sci Rep

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“…Bats have a much larger body size allowing more pollen to be transported and are able to fly farther distances during foraging, thus bats would both be able to transfer more pollen from one flower to another and transport pollen further. Baobabs are obligate out-crossers [22], and thus the ability to transfer pollen to neighboring trees and to trees situated further away is important for pollination and long-term fitness. Baobab fruit size is generally smaller in southern African compared to other parts of Africa [37,38] and genetic diversity may also possibly be limited which may have an interesting long-term effect on the southern African population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bat pollination is hypothesized to be important for African baobabs because trees are self-incompatible [20,22] and occur at densities averaging 2 trees/ha [18]. As long-distance fliers capable of carrying large pollen loads, bats should be effective pollinators and central to reproductive success in many populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Citizen Science Confirms the Rarity of Fruit Bat Pollination of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Flowers in Southern Africa

et al. 2020

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The iconic African baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) has "chiropterophilous" flowers that are adapted for pollination by fruit bats. Although bat pollination of baobabs has been documented in east and west Africa, it has not been confirmed in southern Africa where it has been suggested that hawk moths (Nephele comma) may also be involved in baobab pollination. We used a citizen science approach to monitor baobab tree and flower visitors from dusk till midnight at 23 individual baobab trees over 27 nights during the flowering seasons (November-December) of 2016 and 2017 in northern South Africa and southern Zimbabwe (about 1650 visitors). Insect visitors frequently visited baobab flowers, including hawk moths, but, with one exception in southeastern Zimbabwe, no fruit bats visited flowers. Citizen science enabled us to substantiate preliminary conclusions about the relative importance of moth versus bat pollination of baobabs in southern Africa, with important implications for resource management.Diversity 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 20 average minimum and maximum temperatures in the area have increased by around 1.2 °C and the number of extremely hot days (>35 °C) per summer has increased by 22 days [29,30].

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“…Genetic diversity and population structure of a plant species are directly influenced by its reproductive system and gene flow [37]. Baobab is a self-incompatible species [38] possessing a reproductive mechanism common for most angiosperm plants which help to maintain and increase diversity within populations as cited in [37]. The major baobab pollinators are fruit bats [39], and seed dispersal is commonly mediated by humans and many animals (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic diversity and structure of baobab (Adansonia digitataL.) in southeastern Kenya

Chládová¹,

Kalousová²,

Mandák

et al. 2019

R. Soc. open sci.

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Baobab ( Adansonia digitata L.) is an iconic tree of African savannahs. Its multipurpose character and nutritional composition of fruits and leaves offer high economic and social potential for local communities. There is an urgent need to characterize the genetic diversity of the Kenyan baobab populations in order to facilitate further conservation and domestication programmes. This study aims at documenting the genetic diversity and structure of baobab populations in southeastern Kenya. Leaf or bark samples were collected from 189 baobab trees in seven populations distributed in two geographical groups, i.e. four inland and three coastal populations. Nine microsatellite loci were used to assess genetic diversity. Overall, genetic diversity of the species was high and similarly distributed over the populations. Bayesian clustering and principal coordinate analysis congruently divided the populations into two distinct clusters, suggesting significant differences between inland and coastal populations. The genetic differentiation between coastal and inland populations suggests a limited possibility of gene flow between these populations. Further conservation and domestications studies should take into consideration thegeographical origin of trees and more attention should be paid to morphological characterization of fruits and leaves of the coastal and inland populations to understand the causes and the impact of the differentiation.

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Baobabs (Adansonia digitata L.) are self-incompatible and ‘male’ trees can produce fruit if hand-pollinated

Cited by 20 publications

References 26 publications

New chromosome number and cyto-molecular characterization of the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) - “The Tree of Life”

New chromosome number and cyto-molecular characterization of the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) - “The Tree of Life”

Citizen Science Confirms the Rarity of Fruit Bat Pollination of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Flowers in Southern Africa

Genetic diversity and structure of baobab (Adansonia digitataL.) in southeastern Kenya

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