OBJECTIVECurrent study on the pollination biology of Tulipa edulis was conducted to investigate its pollination characteristics and to provide references for artificial domestication and breeding of T. edulis.

METHODFlowering dynamics, pollinators, morphology and structure of flower were observed. Different methods were adopted to evaluate the pollen vitality, and benzidine-H2O2 method was used for estimation of the stigma receptivity. Breeding system was evaluated based on out-crossing index (OCI) , pollen-ovule ratio (P/O) and the results of emasculation, bagging and artificial pollination studies.

RESULTThe flower of T. edulis showed typical characteristics of Liliaceae. The pollen remained viable to some extent during all the anthesis and peaked within three days after blossoming. Stigma acceptability peaked in the first day of blossom and dwindled away in the next four days. The type of breeding system of T. edulis was facultative xenogamy, three species of Halictus are the main pollination insects.

CONCLUSIONThe type of breeding system of T. edulis was facultative xenogamy, withal cross-pollination give priority to self-pollination, and the insects play a main role on the pollination of T. edulis, further validation are needed to judge if the wind is helpful to pollination.

Breeding ; Flowers ; Pollen ; Pollination ; Tulipa ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo find the sexual reproduction characteristics and improve the seed propagation and new variety breeding of Fritillaria cirrhosa.

METHODFlower, anther and pistil development were observed. Pollinating in different development period and bagging were used to measure stigma maturity situation and natural outcrossing rate.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONIt took 12 days from floral bud emergency to finished flowering. It was observed that anther opened in longitudinal direction and pollen was ejected for 2-4 days continuously. Pistil matured earlier, and chapiter could be fertilized from middle bud stage the third day after flowering, but the most suitable time was 2-3 day after the corolla opening. The natural outcrossing rate was 81.9%. F. cirrhosa is a typical xenial plant.

Flowers ; physiology ; Fritillaria ; physiology ; Pollination ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo reveal the flowering characteristics and provide theoretical basis for the breeding and cultivation of Lamium barbatum.

METHODThe field observation and investigation of blooming phenophase were applied in the study growth dynamics of inflorescence and the period of the floret were measured. Then the statistic analyses of them were carried out. The pollen viability was evaluated by TTC test and the stigma receptivity was evaluated by benzidine-H2O2 method.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe flowers of L. barbatum were bisexual, with 4 to 14 flowers in an inflorescence. The population came into bloom from April to June and the blossom of a single flower could last about 3 days. Pollination peak lasted 8 hours from the very beginning of blooming, and the high stigma receptive stage remained during the same period of time. The results indicated that the breeding system of L. barbatum was outcrossing with self-compatibility and pollinators were needed based on the outcrossing index. The most frequent floral visitors were bees. The suitable breeding strategy was also discussed.

Breeding ; Flowers ; physiology ; Lamiaceae ; physiology ; Pollination

The study is aimed to investigate the reproductive biology characteristics of Polygonatum cyrtonema, especially including phenology, flower bud differentiation, flowering timing, floral traits, pollen vigor and stigma receptivity. The results showed that P. cyrtonema forms inflorescence before the leaves spread. In the wild, P. cyrtonema is mainly pollinated by insects such as bumblebees, with a seed setting rate of 65.12%. The seed setting rate of indoor single plant isolation or self-pollination enclosed by parchment paper bag is 0, indicating that it is self-incompatible. In Lin'an city, seedlings begin to emerge from mid-March to early April(the temperature is higher than 7.5 ℃), buds begin to emerge from the end of March to mid-April, and then undergo the full bloom stage from mid-to-late April, and the final flowering stage from the end of April to mid-May. The whole flowering period lasts 36 to 45 days. There are obvious differences in the phenology of different provenances. The flowers come into bloom from the base to the top along the aboveground main axis, which usually contain 4-22 inflorescences with(2-) 4-10(-21) flowers per inflorescence. The flowering pe-riod for a single plant is 26-38 days. The single flower lasts about 20-25 days from budding to opening and withers 2 days after pollination, and then the ovary will gradually expand. If unpollinated, it will continue to bloom for 3-5 days and then wither. Flower development period is significantly related to pollen vigor and stigma remittance. The pollen viability is the highest when the flower is fully opened with anthers gathering on the stigma, and the receptivity is the strongest when the stigma protrudes out of the perianth and secretes mucus. The fruits and seeds ripen in October, and proper shading can ensure the smooth development and maturity of the seeds. This study provides a basis for the hybrid breeding and seed production of P. cyrtonema.
Flowers ; Plant Breeding ; Pollination ; Polygonatum ; Reproduction

A field investigation was conducted on the floral syndrome and breeding system of Corydalis edulis located in natural populations in campus of Anhui Normal University by out-crossing index, pollen-ovule ratio, artificial pollination and bagging experiment. The results showed that the plant was in bloom from March to May and flowering span among populations was 72 days. The flowering span for a raceme was 14-24 days. The life span of one single flower was approximately 5-10 days. Spatial positioning of stigma and anthers were spatially desperation on the day of anthesis. The filaments were shorter than the styles through pollen vitality and stigma receptivity experiments. A self-pollination breeding system was reflected by OCI 3, pollinators were required sometimes; A complex cross bred was indicated by P/O = 857.14, combined with the results of the bagging and artificial pollination experiment, the breeding system of C. edulis was mixed with self-pollination and outcrossing. The special floral structure and pests destroying may have a certain impact on seed-set rate.
Breeding ; Corydalis ; physiology ; Flowers ; physiology ; Pollination ; physiology ; Reproduction ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo provide the theoretical basis and applied technology for breeding superior species of Dendrobium officinale.

METHODThe peroxidase solution was used to test the pollen vigor in different flowering time and storage conditions. Cross, self and opening pollination were conducted in the green house, the subsidiary pollination by insects was carried out outdoors.

RESULTThe pollen of D. officinale was still in vigor when the flower faded. The pollen vigor was only 29.4% in the buds, 70.6% in the bloom day, and decreased to 31.9% a week later, it remained still 21.2% 20 days later under the condition of dry and 4 degrees C. The fructification rate was about 82.6% and 7.3%, respectively, when the cross and self pollination performed by hand in the whole flowering time, the rate was 0 in the green house and outdoors.

CONCLUSIONThe pollen of D. officinale was still in vigor during the whole flowering time, the fructification rate was 0 in the green house and outdoors resulted from the specific structure of flower. The wild resources of D. officinale were protected and germplasm was developed effectively through the artificial cross pollination.

Dendrobium ; growth & development ; Fruit ; growth & development ; Pollen ; physiology ; Pollination

In this study, the processes of pollination ecology of Fritillaria delavayi were investigated to document its reproductive characteristics. Some individuals of F. delavayi could produce seeds under bagging without emasculation (11%), but the rate was significantly lower than that of the natural control (87%). It is suggesting that pollination of F. delavayi largely depends on pollen vectors. Bombus sushikini was the only effective pollinator of F. delavayi and the visitation frequency was 0.003 time xXflower(-1) x min(-1). Flowering of F. delavayi in whole population lasted for 35 d and single flower for 11 d. Pollen viability and stigma receptivity lasted for 9 d and were relatively long compared with other Fritillaria genus plants. Consequently, bumblebee pollination and long floral longevity seem to be important for reproductive assurance of F. delavayi in harsh alpine environments.
Animals ; Bees ; physiology ; Fritillaria ; physiology ; Pollen ; physiology ; Pollination

To study the breeding system and pollination characteristics of Gleditsia sinensis, we observed the development of flower development and the processing of pollination, and determined the pollen viability and stigma acceptability by TTC and benzidine-hydrogen peroxide method and detected its breeding system using OCI value, P/O ratio and artificial pollination.The results showed that: ①G. sinensis are racemes, divided into bisexual inflorescences (only a small amount of inactive pollen) and male inflorescences (occasionally a few bisexual flowers), flowers hermaphrodite. ②Male flowers had the strongest pollen activity 4 h after flowering; the stigma receptivity of bisexual was the highest at 1 h after flowering, and pollination was the best in this time. ③The pollen tube had a few elongation when the bisexual flower is half-opened. The number of pollen tube and length significantly increased when blooming. The flower reaches the ovary and even enters the ovule to complete the fertilization. ④When the OCI=4 and P/O=11 684, it means that the breeding system was facultative, outcrossing, and requiring pollinators based on the results of the bagging experiment.There was parthenogenesis. ⑤The characteristics of saponin pollination were wind pollination and insect vector pollination, and pollinators were initially identified as Apis mellifera ligustica. All these results provides a theoretical and technical foundation for the new germplasm of G. sinensis.
Animals ; Bees ; Flowers ; Gleditsia ; Plant Breeding ; Pollen ; Pollination ; Reproduction

Climactic changes are key environmental issues affecting allergic diseases. Temperature and CO2 content have been found to be increasing together with climate changes, which could increase pollen production, extend the pollination period, and augment the allergenic components of major pollens. Changes in the distribution of major trees and weeds have been noted. Severe weather events such as thunderstorm winds and precipitation could increasingly cause pollen grains to burst, releasing allergenic particles and leading to extensive mold growth. Air pollutants can increase the concentration of allergen released from pollen grains and allow for easier penetration into airway mucosa. Future studies will be essential to investigate the mechanisms by which allergenic contents can be changed in response to climate change. A better understanding of how aeroallergens interact with air pollutants is needed. Climate change has a significant impact on aeroallergen levels and content in ways which may accelerate the development of allergic diseases. Future strategies will be crucial in preventing the allergic diseases associated with climate changes.
Air Pollutants ; Climate ; Climate Change ; Fungi ; Mucous Membrane ; Pollen ; Pollination ; Weather ; Wind

OBJECTIVETo reveal the flowering characteristics of Panax stipuleanatus and provide theoretical basis for distant hybridization between P. stipuleanatus and P. notoginseng.

METHODDuring the blossom of P. stipuleanatus, we observed and investigated blooming phenophase, growth dynamics of inflorescence, pollination and seed setting of its population and the flowering process and its period, the regularity of flowering and pollinating of the floret. Statistic analyses were carried out.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe population florescence of P. stipuleanatus was about 60 d. The average florets quality of umbel was 44-47. The average natural pollination rates were 73.32%-95.39%. The average seed setting rates was 35.65%-51.76%. The highest growth periods of inflorescence are from March 25 to April 4. The diameter, the height and the length of its inflorescence in 10 d increased 44.65%, 42.19% and 106.25%, respectively. The whole stereotype period was the May beginning. The time that the floret from petal opening to withering it generally needed 36-48 h, 60 percent of the floret finished auther pollinating during the same day and 40 percent until the next day. The flowering and pollinating peak periods were 14:00-15:00, the flowering numbers was 28.48% of the total flowering amount and the pollinating numbers were 38.63% of the total pollinating amount. The high temperature (20-30 degrees C) and the low humidity (RH < 60%) were beneficial to flowering and pollinating.

Flowers ; growth & development ; physiology ; Inflorescence ; growth & development ; physiology ; Panax ; growth & development ; physiology ; Pollination ; Seeds ; physiology