Autonomous self‐pollination in the nectarless orchid Pogonia minor. Issue 1 (23rd January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suetsugu, Kenji
• Is Part Of: Plant species biology. Volume 30:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2014-01-23
• Subjects: Plants -- Evolution -- Periodicals; Plants -- Classification -- Periodicals; 581
• DOI: 10.1111/1442-1984.12037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0913-557X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The pollination biology of the nectarless orchid <italic>Pogonia minor</italic> was investigated in central Japan. The investigation revealed that the solitary flowers failed to attract pollinators, while high rates of fruit set were observed in the natural population. Comparable levels of fruit set were obtained in bagged, artificial self‐pollinated and artificial cross‐pollinated plants, indicating that the species is not pollinator‐limited for fruit set under natural conditions. Autonomous self‐pollination in <italic>P. minor</italic> resulted from a reduced rostellum, which allowed contact between the pollinia and the stigma. Self‐pollination is thought to be an adaptive response that provides reproductive assurance under conditions of pollinator limitation. Since pollen limitation is generally known to be frequent among deceptive orchids, strong pollen limitation is probably a driving force in the autonomous self‐pollination mechanism in the nectarless orchid <italic>P. minor</italic>.</p> </abstract>