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Style curvature and its adaptive significance in the Malvaceae

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Abstract

Curvature of un-pollinated styles towards the anthers in the Malvaceae has been interpreted as different adaptive mechanisms, presenting a challenging problem for evolutionary biologists. We have surveyed different species of this family to determine in which style curvature occurs, and to determine its possible functional roles. Two distinct types of style curvature occur in 18 species distributed in eight genera of four tribes: Type I, before pollen shedding, occurs in species of the Malvavisceae, Ureneae, and Hibisceae tribes, which have highly receptive stigmas and viable pollen when curvature brings stigmas into contact with anthers; and Type II, after pollen shedding, only appears in the protandrous species of the Malveae tribe. Curvature is often associated with annual and perennial herbs. We conclude that the adaptive significance of style curvature in the Malvaceae includes delayed selfing, promotion of outcrossing, and reduction in intrafloral male–female interference, even if the frequency of two or three of these occurs in one species only. This diversity provides model plants and the opportunity for determining the evolution, relative importance, and harmony mechanism of different adaptive significance, especially when two or three functions occur simultaneously in one floral movement of one species (e.g., Kosteletzkya virginica).

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Acknowledgments

We thank Ms Q.-X. Hu, Mr Z.-S. Wang, Mr M.-W. Wang, Mr G. Wang, Mr M. Qiu, and Mr J.-W. Chen for field investigations. Funding for this work was provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 30500071 to C.-J. Ruan).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Halophyte Research Lab, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, Jiangsu, China

    Cheng-Jiang Ruan

  2. Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Bio-Resources Utilization, Dalian Nationalities University, Dalian City, 116600, Liaoning, China

    Cheng-Jiang Ruan

  3. Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kagawa, 761-0795, Japan

    Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva

  4. Halophyte Research Lab, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, Jiangsu, China

    Pei Qin

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  1. Cheng-Jiang Ruan
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  2. Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva
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Correspondence to Cheng-Jiang Ruan.

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Ruan, CJ., Teixeira da Silva, J.A. & Qin, P. Style curvature and its adaptive significance in the Malvaceae. Plant Syst Evol 288, 13–23 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-010-0305-2

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