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Stylar polymorphism, reciprocity and incompatibility systems in Nymphoides montana (Menyanthaceae) endemic to southeastern Australia

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Abstract

Heterostyly is a stylar polymorphism that has been shaped by the evolution of floral characters adapted for efficient pollen transfer. Different types of stylar polymorphism are described in which the discrete characterization of the exact polymorphic type (e.g., distyly vs. stigma-height dimorphism) requires detailed floral measurements (e.g., sex-organ reciprocity). In clonal and aquatic Nymphoides montana, although the presence of two floral morphs that contain styles of two lengths has been previously reported, no studies have quantitatively estimated the level of reciprocity and/or described the stylar condition. Morphological variations and incompatibility relationships were explored between the two morphs in three southeastern Australian populations. In this study, one population is characterized as stigma-height dimorphism (i.e., two morphs with discrete variation in stigma height but little variation in anther height), whereas the other two populations are typical distylous (i.e., two morphs for reciprocal stigma and anther height). Nymphoides montana is dimorphic in a wide range of ancillary characters, including corolla size, stigma size, shape and papillae morphology, and pollen size, number and exine sculpture. Following glasshouse pollinations, full incompatibility systems were observed in the distylous populations, whereas the stigma-height dimorphic population showed between-morph variation in the extent of incompatibility. Despite the variation in sex-organ reciprocity and incompatibility, other lines of evidence appear to assure the maintenance of the stylar polymorphism in the N. montana study populations. All populations are nearly isoplethic (i.e., both morphs in equal frequencies), which is indicative of balanced polymorphisms that appear to be maintained by legitimate pollen transfer between the morphs.

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Acknowledgments

I wish to thank G. Vaughton and M. Ramsey for comments on the earlier draft and assistance with designing the experiments, V. Ferrero and J. M. Sánchez for valuable suggestions and discussions, M. Fatemi and L. Vary for comments on the final draft, I. Simpson and M. Fatemi for field assistance, R. Willis for glasshouse assistance, P. Littlefield in the scanning electron microscopy unit and I. Telford in the NCW Beadle Herbarium. This study was supported by the financial assistance of the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) and UNE Research Assistantship (UNERA) scholarships and the School of Environmental and Rural Science, UNE.

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  1. Azadeh Haddadchi

    Present address: Ecosystem Management, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

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  1. Department of Botany, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia

    Azadeh Haddadchi

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Haddadchi, A. Stylar polymorphism, reciprocity and incompatibility systems in Nymphoides montana (Menyanthaceae) endemic to southeastern Australia. Plant Syst Evol 299, 389–401 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-012-0729-y

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