Abstract
Gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) has been mainly described in species-rich clades within Orchidaceae. We report GSI for a genus within Maxillariinae, one of the most conspicuous and diverse subtribes of neotropical orchids. Here, we describe the reproductive system of Brasiliorchis picta, B. phoenicanthera, and B. porphyrostele. Anatomical studies of fruit development showed that pollen tubes of aborted, self-pollinated flowers degenerate half-way in the stylar channel and never reach the ovules. Spontaneous self-pollination and emasculation set no fruits for none of the sampled species, thus supporting the hypothesis that these three species studied rely on the agency of pollinators and pollinator-mediated cross-pollination to set fruit. Fruit set from cross-pollinations ranged from 33.4 to 77.5%. One self-pollinated fruit of B. porphyrostele developed to completion. All other fruits aborted between 10 and 21 days after pollination. These data support previous evidence of variable strength GSI being exhibited in orchid species. Additional studies of self-incompatibility systems are needed to evaluate their role in species diversification and evolution of reproductive strategies in Maxillariinae and to allow for effective conservation strategies of threatened orchid species.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank T. Gelli, E. L. M. Catharino, Jeová, Romário, Yoshito, Carlito, and the Orquidário do Estado “Dr. Frederico Carlos Hoehne” (Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais) for all the support in plant cultivation and data collection. The access of plant specimens was registered at MMA/SISGEN A144711.
Funding
NAPR and JPSPB were supported by scholarships from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)/Brazil/Finance Code 001 and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Research grants were attributed from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, productivity grant 303664/2020-7) to JLSM.
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Ricci, N.A.P., Bento, J.P.S.P., Mayer, J.L.S. et al. Gametophytic self-incompatibility in Maxillariinae orchids. Protoplasma 261, 271–279 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-023-01895-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-023-01895-x