Disentangling the components of pollen limitation in a widespread herb with gametophytic self‐incompatibility

Premise Seed production is frequently limited by the receipt of insufficient or low‐quality pollen, collectively termed “pollen limitation” (PL). In taxa with gametophytic self‐incompatibility (GSI), incompatible pollen can germinate on stigmas but pollen tubes are arrested in styles. This allows fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	American journal of botany Vol. 110; no. 2; pp. e16122 - n/a
Main Authors:	Cisternas‐Fuentes, Anita, Dwyer, Roslynn, Johnson, Nicole, Finnell, Lindsay, Gilman, Jeffrey, Koski, Matthew H.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Botanical Society of America, Inc 01-02-2023
Subjects:	Argentina anserina Elongation Fertilization Germination Incompatibility Performance evaluation Pistils Pollen pollen limitation pollen quality pollen quantity Pollen Tube Pollen tubes pollen–pistil interactions Pollination Recognition Reproduction Rosaceae Seeds Self-incompatibility Self-recognition Stigmas (botany) Styles Taxa Argentina anserina pollen quantity Rosaceae pollen limitation self-incompatibility pollen quality pollen-pistil interactions
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Summary:	Premise Seed production is frequently limited by the receipt of insufficient or low‐quality pollen, collectively termed “pollen limitation” (PL). In taxa with gametophytic self‐incompatibility (GSI), incompatible pollen can germinate on stigmas but pollen tubes are arrested in styles. This allows for estimates of pollen performance before, during, and after self‐recognition, as well as insight into the factors underlying pollen quality limitation in GSI taxa. Methods We scored pollen performance following self and outcross pollinations in Argentina anserina to identify the location of self‐recognition and establish the relationship between pollen tubes and seed production. We then estimated quantity and quality components of PL from >3300 field‐collected styles. We combined our results with other studies to test the prediction that low pollen quality, but not quantity, drives higher PL in self‐incompatible (SI) taxa than in self‐compatible taxa (SC). Results Self and outcross pollen germinated readily on stigmas, but 96% of germinated self‐pollen was arrested during early tube elongation. Reproduction in the field was more limited by pollen quality than by quantity, and pollen failure near the location of self‐recognition was a stronger barrier to fertilization than pollen germination. Across 26 taxa, SI species experienced stronger pollen quality, but not quantity, limitation than SC species. Conclusions Evaluating pollen performance at multiple points within pistils can elucidate potential causes of pollen quality limitation. The receipt of incompatible pollen inhibits fertilization success more than insufficient pollen receipt or poor pollen germination in A. anserina. Likewise, pollen quality limitation drives high overall PL in other SI taxa.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0002-9122 1537-2197
DOI:	10.1002/ajb2.16122