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Marking live conifer pollen for long-distance dispersal experiments

  • Global change ecology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Long-distance dispersal (LDD) theory requires a method for marking live LDD pollen. Such a method must complement more intensive sampling methods inclusive of molecular cytogenetics, proteomics and genomics. We developed a new method for marking live Pinus taeda pollen using two dyes, rhodamine 123 and aniline blue, dissolved in a sucrose solution. Marked and unmarked pollen were compared with respect to in vitro germination, storage, terminal velocity, and in vivo pollen tube penetration of ovules. We found that: (1) both types of marked pollen retained their capacity for germination, (2) both types of marked pollen had similar aerodynamic properties when compared to unmarked pollen controls, (3) marked pollen retained its germination capacity for 48 h, and (4) of the marked pollen, only the aniline-marked pollen penetrated ovules during pollination. Germination declined rapidly for both types of marked pollen after 48 h and before 37 days at −20°C storage, while unmarked pollen lots retained 93% germination at all stages. This method for marking live P. taeda pollen is feasible for tracing LDD pollen only if released and deposited within 48 h of dye treatment.

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Acknowledgments

Our work was supported by the Canada–US Fulbright Program, the Centre of Forest Biology at the University of Victoria, and in part by the USDA Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program, grant number 2005-03804. Our experiments comply with the laws of the United States and Canada. The authors thank Rebecca Wagner, University of Victoria, BC, Canada for her histological expertise. We also thank Dana Nelson, Tom Kubisiak, and Floyd E. Bridgwater (retired) at the USDA Forest Service, Saucier, MS, USA for laboratory use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NESCent and Forest History Society, Durham, NC, 27701, USA

    Claire G. Williams

  2. Department of Biology, Centre for Forest Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3N5, Canada

    Patrick von Aderkas

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  1. Claire G. Williams
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  2. Patrick von Aderkas
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Correspondence to Claire G. Williams.

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Communicated by Rebecca Irwin.

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Williams, C.G., von Aderkas, P. Marking live conifer pollen for long-distance dispersal experiments. Oecologia 165, 255–260 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-010-1825-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-010-1825-8

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