Reproductive Ecology of Flowering Plants: An Introduction

Abstract

Sexual reproduction is vital to ensure variation and perpetuation in organisms. In flowering plants, the reproductive process is accomplished in four major phases. The first phase encompasses the development and organization of flowers, the second ensures pollination, the third includes events leading to fertilization and seed formation and the fourth is defined by dispersal of seeds and their recruitment in populations. Plants optimize reproductive success through interaction between these components of reproductive system and ecological factors. Longevity, vitality and sterility of sexual systems have been well understood in wild and crop species and studies on these aspects have unravelled interesting patterns in angiosperms. However, there is paucity of information on certain aspects such as how plant species modify their reproductive functions in varied habitats and how sexual systems respond to evolutionary pathways, and environmental cues. Reproductive ecological studies are currently trying to answer these questions, as reproductive processes operate in continuum with environmental variables and show specific responses and patterns. These studies also help in understanding the trade-offs and constraints that the angiosperms are always confronted with. The present chapter highlights some of the crucial aspects of reproduction covering phenology, floral biology, pollination ecology, breeding strategies and recruitment pattern. Elucidation of these processes is of immense importance in the management of forest ecosystems, recovery of threatened plant species and sustenance of yield in crops.