Unexpectedly high outcrossing rate in both dense and sparse patches in self-compatible Pedicularis rex (Orobanchaceae)
2013
Jing, Xia | Hong, Liu | Rui, Qin
Pedicularis rex, a self-compatible alpine herb, depends exclusively on pollinators for reproduction. Previous study has revealed that 74.7 % of genetic variability occurs among populations in Yunnan, indicating a mixed mating system for the species. The large floral display also indicates high potential geitonogamy. Therefore, plant density and display size may be important factors influencing the realized mating system of P. rex. In the study reported here we explored the effects of plant density and floral display size on pollinator movements and thus outcrossing rate in two patches of in P. rex at low and high plant densities. We examined foraging behavior of bumblebees, measured reproductive outputs under hand and natural pollination, and estimated the outcrossing rates using RAPD markers. Floral display size was significantly larger and bumblebees visited significantly more flowers in sequence on individual plants in the sparse patch than in the dense patch. We found a significant positive correlation between floral display size and successive visits in the sparse patch, but not in the dense patch. Regression analysis revealed a significant inverse correlation between fruit production and flower production per plant with a theoretical maximum of 63 fruits per plant, but no relationship between seed production and flower production per plant. Contrary to previous studies on genetic structure, however, we found an unexpectedly high outcrossing rate in both the sparse and the dense patch (t ₘ = 1.151 and 0.924, respectively). Resource limitation may intensify seed competition and result in selected seed abortion, which may largely explain the unexpectedly high outcrossing rate.
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