Breeding systems and crossing experiments in Anemone patens and in the Anemome pulsatilla group (Ranunculaceae)

Abstract

Breeding system studies of Anemone patens, A. pulsatilla ssp. pulsatilla, A. pulsatilla ssp. gotlandica, and A. pulsatilla ssp. grandis in cultivation showed that all taxa are self‐compatible. Fruit and seed set were usually low after auto‐deposition of pollen but increased in artificially self‐pollinated flowers. Cross‐pollination usually resulted in increased fruit and seed set compared with self‐pollination, but the level varied noticeably among crossing combinations and for different material due probably to the great variation in the frequency of fruit abortion. Plants of A. pulsatilla ssp. pulsatilla derived from one site showed especially low fruit set. Resource limitation is probably an important component determining reproductive success. No crossing barriers between taxa could be established. Significant differences between the three subspecies of A. pulsatilla were found for several morphological characters.

The complete plastid genome and nuclear genome markers provide molecularevidence for the hybrid origin of Pulsatilla × hackelii Pohl.

“…Potential interspecies hybrids of the genus Pulsatilla were described mainly based on their morphological characteristics (Zimmermann, 1964;Hegi and Weber, 1975;Lindell, 1998), and the hypotheses formulated based on analyses of chloroplast DNA only (Lee et al, 2010) were not confirmed by nuclear genome data (Sun et al, 2014).…”

“…Hybridization is most frequently observed between diploid species of the genus Pulsatilla. It is far less common between tetraploid species, where it is more frequently observed under laboratory conditions than in natural habitats (Lindell, 1998). Back-hybridization was also reported in the genus Pulsatilla (Hegi and Weber, 1975), mostly between species in hybrid zones (Zimmermann, 1964).…”

“…In natural habitats, hybrids of the genus Pulsatilla were described mainly based on their morphological characteristics (Hegi and Weber, 1975;Holub, 1978;Lindell, 1998). Morphometric analyses revealed that hybrids had characteristics intermediate between P. pratensis and P. patens.…”

Pollination of two species of Vellozia (Velloziaceae) from high-altitude quartzitic grasslands, Brazil

“…Lack of suitable pollination, together with resource limitation, have been two important factors traditionally held responsible for incomplete fruit and seed set, particularly self-progeny (Queller 1985;Haig & Westoby 1988;Guitián & Navarro 1996;Collevatti et al 1997;Lindell 1998;Niesenbaum 1999). The causes and consequences of pollen limitation in particular have been the object of much attention in recent years (Ashman et al 2004).…”

Does vegetation impact on the population dynamics and male function in Anemone sylvestris L. (Ranunculaceae)? A case study in three natural populations of xerothermic grasslands

“…Species from the Ranunculaceae, including the genus Anemone develop flowers that are attractive for insects [19,[20][21][22][23] and produce copious amounts of pollen [24]. Pollen plays a key role in sexual reproduction and has an impact on individual fitness, population genetics, population dynamics, and the metapopulation system [25,26].…”