Exploring the diversity of sexual systems and pollination in Brazilian Cleomaceae species

• Published in: Flora. Morphologie, Geobotanik, Oekophysiologie Geobotanik, Oekophysiologie, 2023-03, Vol.300, p.152245, Article 152245
• Main Authors: Parma, Daniele F., Souza, Kaik F., Vaz, Marcelo G.M.V., Martins, Sandy Bastos, Araújo, Wagner L., Zsögön, Agustin, Weber, Andreas P.M., Schranz, M. Eric, Nunes-Nesi, Adriano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Andromonoecy; Cleoserrata; Dichogamy; Gynandropsis; Herkogamy; Tarenaya
• ISSN: 0367-2530; 1618-0585
• DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2023.152245

•The Cleomaceae species have different floral morphs, in addition to herkogamy and dichogamy, indicating the potential of the family to serve as a research model to study reproductive plant traits.•Across species and accessions, manual cross-pollination and open pollination resulted in the highest seed yields.•However, most species are capable of autogamous self-pollination, which may provide some reproductive assurance. The family Cleomaceae is characterized by remarkable floral diversity and abundant nectar and pollen production. In this study, we evaluated the flower functional characteristics associated with the floral diversity of 10 Cleomaceae species, in addition to respectively seven and five accessions of Tarenaya hassleriana and T. longicarpa. The flowers were examined through five types of crosses and thus we determined the most efficient type of crossing based on the number of seeds. In addition, we evaluated pollen limitation, self-incompatibility, self-pollination and explored the possible effects on seed germination. The species can be grouped into three groups based on sexual systems: andromonoecious, hermaphroditism (chasmogamous and cleistogamous), and polygamomonoecious flowers. Gynandropsis gynandra, T. aculeata, T. diffusa, and T. microcarpa exhibited autogamy, whereas the other species did not. Overall, hand cross-pollination produced the highest seed yield, followed by open pollination. Self-pollination produced the lowest number of seeds, with no seed production noted in 16 accessions. Interestingly, the pollination type did not affect seed germination. Together, these results indicate the potential of the Cleomaceae family as a source of information regarding mechanisms involved in the determination of reproductive traits in plants.