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Pollen quality limitation in the Iberian critically endangered genus Pseudomisopates (Antirrhinaceae)

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Abstract

Pollen limitation occurs when sexual reproduction is decreased due to inadequate pollen receipt. Limitation is usually associated with the quality and the quantity of pollen; still, most studies do not discriminate between the two. We used hand-pollination experiments and observations of floral visitors to determine the mating system and limitations to seed production of the Spanish endangered species Pseudomisopates rivas-martinezii. We tested for agamospermy, autogamy, obligated autogamy, cross-pollination and supplementation. The response variables considered were fruit set, seed set and viable seed set. Previous studies indicated that (i) the species exhibits extensive clonal growth, (ii) plants flower profusely in summer, (iii) seeds showed to be highly unviable, and (iv) no seedlings were observed in the field. We found that P. rivas-martinezii is predominantly self-incompatible, has an unexpected generalized pollination system considering its occluded corolla, and is limited by qualitative rather than quantitative pollen limitation. These results indicate that, in addition to other presumed environmental factors, the low seed viability of this self-incompatible species is due to pollen quality limitation as a result of reduced mate availability.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Bernardo García Muñoz for information on populations, Gonzalo García-Baquero and Jorge Martínez for field assistance, and Concepción Ornosa for bee identification. The Consejería de Medio Ambiente of the Junta de Castilla y León granted permission to work in Gredos Regional Park. This research was supported by the Spanish General Direction of Scientific and Technical Research (DGICYT) through the project CGL2009-1003 and a Spanish MARM grant (078/2007). MEA was supported by an FPU fellowship (AP2005-0160) from the Spanish Ministry of Education.

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  1. Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid, CSIC, Plaza de Murillo 2, 28014, Madrid, Spain

    María E. Amat & Pablo Vargas

  2. Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    José M. Gómez

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  1. María E. Amat
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  2. Pablo Vargas
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Correspondence to María E. Amat.

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Amat, M.E., Vargas, P. & Gómez, J.M. Pollen quality limitation in the Iberian critically endangered genus Pseudomisopates (Antirrhinaceae). Plant Ecol 212, 1069–1078 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-010-9887-6

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