Reproductive Biology and Pollination Ecology of Berberis lycium Royle: A Highly Valued Shrub of Immense Medicinal Significance

Abstract

Study of reproductive biology and pollination ecology helps in understanding the life history patterns of species. Such a study brings to light the bottlenecks, if any, on account of which the individuals of the species are not able to reproduce in nature and ultimately helps in planning appropriate conservation strategies for the species under threat. The present study was aimed at examining the morphological and reproductive variance in Berberis lycium, a threatened ecological specialist growing within shrubberies and open hillsides of the North-Western Himalayas in India. B. lycium displays three different variants. Flowering period ranges from February to September. Pollen viability as reported on fluorescein diacetate and acetocarmine treatments was highest for variant I, while maximum pollen output was obtained for variant III. Pollen pistil interaction is brought by the movement of anther towards stigma. Fluorescence microscopy of hand pollinated club shaped stigma shows that the germinating pollen form a ring over the receptive adaxial surface. Pollination syndrome is entomophily. Variant II attracts a significantly large number of pollinators from diverse insect families. Breeding experiments reflect that plants are self-compatible and cross fertile. Reproductive output (% fruit set) was highest for variant II followed by III and I, respectively. This investigation helped to understand the effect of different biotic and abiotic constraints on the phenology and reproductive biology of the plant. The information generated so will enable conservationists to design appropriate strategies for its long-term survival and sustenance in nature.

Reproductive Biology and Breeding Systems of Two Opisthopappus Endemic and Endangered Species on the Taihang Mountains

“…Meanwhile, the flowers have characteristics that are associated with bee and fly pollination ( Figure 3 ), such as small tubular corollas and sites with concentrated nectar. Bees generally have pollen-carrying legs that are completely brosse [ 7 , 30 ]. Visiting bees can easily carry pollen when landing on the florets and transport it from one flower to the next.…”

“…For most flowering plants, pollen viability and stigma receptivity are critical parameters for the successful initiation of pollen-pistil interactions [ 7 , 36 ]. Extended stigma receptivity assures the pollination, fertilization, and reproductive success of plants [ 14 ].…”

“…Reproduction is not only the most important and relatively fragile step in the life cycles of plants but also the core of their evolutionary process [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Meanwhile, pollination biology is a critical parameter in the life history of flowering plants that determines the success of sexual reproduction [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. The mating and breeding systems of plant species are determinant factors of the genetic structures of populations [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…Meanwhile, pollination biology is a critical parameter in the life history of flowering plants that determines the success of sexual reproduction [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. The mating and breeding systems of plant species are determinant factors of the genetic structures of populations [ 7 , 8 ]. Thus, an investigation of the characteristics of the reproductive biology of a species, including their pollination ecology and breeding system, is indispensable for elucidating the different phenophases of a species.…”

“…Thus, the reproductive success of these lithophytes may be reduced by both uncertain pollinator services and low pollen outputs [ 4 , 14 ]. Studies of the reproductive characteristics of these lithophytes can improve our understanding of their evolutionary processes and survival strategies, yet there have been few corresponding investigations to date [ 3 , 6 , 7 , 15 ].…”