Induced cleistogamy: A strategy for reproductive assurance in Murdannia nudiflora (Commelinaceae)

Abstract

Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan is a day flower that is dependent on entomophilous pollination. Despite the lack of pollinator attractants and its short flower longevity, M. nudiflora shows high rates of fecundity, which lead to their rapid dispersal. In addition to monitoring the vegetative reproductive methods and the effect of select environmental parameters (atmospheric temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation rates) in M. nudiflora, we evaluated mating systems in this species via artificial crosses. This species has evolved to undergo autogamy to ensure reproductive success when pollinators are insufficient; cleistogamous flowers are produced for optimal pollinator activity when environmental conditions are unfavorable. The number of cleistogamous flowers produced was found to be positively correlated with humidity and precipitation rates, and negatively correlated with temperature. In addition, it was found that high humidity and precipitation always hinder insect pollinators. Therefore, the combination of vegetative reproduction, entomophily, and cleistogamous self-pollination helps this weedy species to propagate with maximum efficiency. Murdannia nudiflora employs pre-anthesis cleistogamy as a mating strategy for reproductive assurance while retaining mechanisms that promote out-crossing.

Spatiotemporal variation of chasmogamy and cleistogamy in a native perennial grass: fecundity, reproductive allocation and allometry

“…Cleistogamous reproduction has traditionally been viewed as a form of reproductive assurance that provides a way for plants to mature many seeds at a low energetic cost under conditions of pollinator scarcity ( Darwin 1877 ; Kalisz et al 2004 ; Goodwillie et al 2005 ; Eckert et al 2006 ; Veena and Nampy 2019 ; Delgado-Dávila and Martén-Rodríguez 2021 ) or stressful abiotic conditions ( Campbell et al 1983 ; Schoen 1984 ; Le Corff 1993 ; Cheplick 2007 ). Indeed, the low cost of producing CL flowers and their high seed set ( Schemske 1978 ; Schoen 1984 ; Redbo-Torstensson and Berg 1995 ; Winn and Moriuchi 2009 ; Hesse and Pannell 2011 ; Veena and Nampy 2019 ; Seguí et al 2021 ), and the absence of significant inbreeding depression in many selfing species ( Culley 2000 ; Winn et al 2011 ; Ansaldi et al 2019 ; Delgado-Dávila and Martén-Rodríguez 2021 ), argues forcibly for an evolutionary advantage of CL under many conditions. Nevertheless, exclusively CL species are not known, suggesting some advantage to the additional production of CH flowers ( Oakley et al 2007 ), especially when environmental conditions vary greatly in space and time ( Schoen and Lloyd 1984 ).…”

Fire frequency effects on cleistogamy expression and progeny performance inCologania broussonetii

“…Environmental factors such as soil moisture and nutrition, light levels and plant size may influence the production of CL and CH flowers (Lu 2002; Munguía‐Rosas et al 2013; Furukawa et al 2020). At the microsite scale, abiotic resource limitation usually increases cleistogamy expression, as this phenotype provides a high ratio of fitness/cost returns, maximizing reproductive success (Lloyd 1984; Veena & Nampy 2019; Stojanova et al 2020; Sternberger et al 2020). In addition, biotic factors, such as pollinator activity, can influence cleistogamy expression, as CL flowers can assure seed production via selfing when floral visitors are absent or unpredictable (Culley & Klooster 2007; Panique & Caruso 2020).…”

A novel type of neighbour perception elicits reproductive plasticity in an annual plant with a mixed mating system

“…The suggestion that increased production of CL flowers fosters reproductive assurance is further supported by the ontogenetic pattern of CH/CL proportion, whereby the first flowers are cleistogamic, ensuring minimal seed production regardless of the presence of conspecific neighbours or suitable pollinators (Fig. 3b; Veena & Nampy 2019). In the presence of potential reproductive partners, subsequent flowers have significantly higher CH/CL, and towards the end of the season, when resource levels and the predictability of suitable growth conditions typically decrease, the advantage of CL flowers increases (Fig.…”