Abstract
The floral traits and sexual allocation of plants were malleable to the environment. To explore the adaptation strategies of floral traits and sexual allocation patterns to the altitudinal gradient, we addressed the floral traits, sexual allocation patterns and reproductive output of Clematis tangutica as well as the relationships of these indexs along an elevation gradient on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The calyx length, width, thickness and weight, stamen and pistil length, androecium mass, sexual allocation (A/G) and seed set ratio increased as the elevation rised, but stamen and pistil numbers, gynoecium mass and fruit set decreased. As the elevation increased, the male investment of C. tangutica increased, but the female investment decreased, which showed out a trade-off strategy of the sexual allocation. The stepwise regression analysis suggested that seed set ratio was mainly affected by the attractive traits (calyx length, width and weight), pistil number and fruit set. These results suggested that the floral traits and sex allocation patterns of C. tangutica were significantly affected by changes in altitudinal gradient. Low fruit-set success in high altitude may be compensated by producing more seed-bearing fruits. The enlarged attractive organs and the decreased pistil number, and fruit set may affect reproductive success in C. tangutica by promoting successful pollination and reducing maintenance costs. Therefore, C. tangutica ensures seed-set success in extreme environment at high altitude by changing floral traits. Also, this study supported the theory that the male function could be enhanced at high altitude.
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The authors would like to thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31270429) for their support in this research.
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This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31270429).
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Zhao, X., Hou, Q., Su, X. et al. Variation of the floral traits and sexual allocation patterns of Clematis tangutica to the altitudinal gradient of the eastern Qinghai- Tibet Plateau. Biologia 78, 55–65 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-022-01178-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-022-01178-5