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Male function for ensuring pollination and reproductive success in Berberis lycium Royle: A novel mechanism

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Abstract

In Berberis lycium anthers on alternate stamens dehisce, thus prolonging the male function so that pollination is affected and reproduction is ensured. The large pollen sac of each bithecous anther after the appearance of longitudinal dehiscence slit moves away from the filament while remaining attached at the tip of the connective and then orients in such a way that pollen-laden surface faces the stigma. No pollen is available to receptive stigma as pollen grains remain stuck to the anther sac. They do not get dispersed even by wind. Pollination and consequently reproduction is ensured through the intervention of insect, which does not affect pollen transfer to the stigma directly but by touching the base of the staminal filament while foraging nectar secreted by nectaries at the base of corolla, thus leading to staminal movement. This makes the dehisced anthers stick to the stigma and deposit pollen there.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to the Director, Centre for Biodiversity Studies, BGSBU, Rajouri, for providing necessary facilities to carry out this work. DBT is also acknowledged for providing funds to undertake research on reproductive biology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Conservation and Molecular Biology Lab, Centre for Biodiversity Studies, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir, India

    Supriya Sharma & Susheel Verma

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  1. Supriya Sharma
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  2. Susheel Verma
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Correspondence to Supriya Sharma.

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Corresponding editor: MAN MOHAN JOHRI

[Sharma S and Verma S 2016 Male function for ensuring pollination and reproductive success in Berberis lyceum Royle: A novel mechanism. J. Biosci.] DOI 10.1007/s12038-015-9581-x

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Sharma, S., Verma, S. Male function for ensuring pollination and reproductive success in Berberis lycium Royle: A novel mechanism. J Biosci 41, 21–25 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-015-9581-x

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