Accurate position exchange of stamen and stigma by movement in opposite direction resolves the herkogamy dilemma in a protandrous plant, Ajuga decumbens (Labiatae).

ABSTRACT: Herkogamy is an effective way to reduce sexual interference. However, the separation of stigma and anther potentially leads to a conflict because the pollen may be placed in a location on the pollinator different from the point of stigma contact, which can reduce pollination accuracy. Floral mechanisms aiming to resolve this conflict have seldom been explored. The floral biology of protandrous Ajuga decumbens was studied to uncover how the herkogamy dilemma can be resolved. Flower anthesis was divided into male, middle, female and wilting phases. The positions of stigma and stamen were dissimilar in different flower development stages. We measured the distance of the stamen and stigma to the lower corolla lip at different floral phases, which was the pollinators' approaching way. The polle

SUBMITTER: Ye ZM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6757348 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature