Breeding system and pollination of two closely related bamboo species

Abstract

Breeding system characteristics of woody bamboo species are still little known although this knowledge is important for research on genetic improvement and conservation of bamboo forests. The present study is the first report on variation in breeding system from mass and sporadically flowering bamboo populations. The results demonstrate that two Dendrocalamus species have a mixed mating system with self-compatibility, predominant outcrossing, and no agamospermy. Pollen limitation and scarcity of wild pollinators influence sexual reproduction in sporadically flowering populations of both species.

Genetic structure and differentiation in Dendrocalamus sinicus (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) populations provide insight into evolutionary history and speciation of woody bamboos

“…In addition, the SSR data detected positive isolation by distance among all populations and within the TZ group (Fig. S5 ), which was in accord with the breeding system and pollination characteristics of this species 29 , i.e., highly restricted pollen transmission and seed dispersal among populations under natural conditions, especially within the WQ group. In nature, the populations of D. sinicus only disperse over relatively short distances with limited seed dispersal 16 , 17 .…”

“…During the last c. 30 years, sporadic flowering and seed set in TZ populations of D. sinicus have been observed in natural populations in southern Yunnan, whereas sporadic flowering was rare with almost no seed set among WQ populations 17 , 33 . Our own observations of several flowering clumps of D. sinicus in the wild showed that their flowering times were not synchronous, which could explain a lack of pollination and seed set 29 . What is more important is that, based on cpDNA and SSR data, both groups of D. sinicus showed significant genetic differentiation which was consistent with geographic isolation.…”

Mixed mating system and variable mating patterns in tropical woody bamboos

“…Firstly, based on origin of woody bamboo forests, bamboo species can generally be divided into wild and cultivated species [12]. Secondly, in terms of the size of flowering forests or populations, woody bamboo flowering events can be divided on the whole into two types, namely mass and sporadic flowering [11, 15, 16]. Due to outstandingly long vegetative growth periods (ca.…”

“…As for characteristics of mating systems, most of the documented woody bamboos were dichogamous and protogynous, and were generally considered to be wind-pollinated species [11, 16–18]. However, it is still in controversy about whether bamboos are obligate outcrossers [16]. Within tropical bamboos, Dendrocalamus spp.…”

“…Within tropical bamboos, Dendrocalamus spp. demonstrated a breeding system suitable for hybridization [16–18]. Recently, paternity analyses of several wild temperate woody bamboo species, such as Sasa cernua (sporadic-flowering, [19]), S. veitchii var.…”