Publication: Investigating the reproductive function of floral morphs in a distylous hummingbird-pollinated plant
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CNPQ::CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS::BOTANICA, CNPQ::CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS::ECOLOGIA
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Trevizan, Renata
Summary
• Floral display plays an essential role in reproduction by enhancing female or male performance in flowers. The distylous Psychotria poeppigiana (Rubiaceae) has brightly red bracts that act as honest signals of floral resources to pollinators, with larger bracts having greater nectar availability but higher mortality, while smaller bracts produce more fruits. This raises whether the S-styled morph, characterized by larger bracts, may predominantly benefit male function, whereas the L-styled, with smaller bracts, favors female function.
• We evaluated morphological trait differences between L- and S-styled morphs, including bract size and floral traits (length, diameter, and number of flowers per bract). We then tested whether bract size influences bract mortality. We also evaluated the effect of bract size on male and female pollination performance by analyzing pollen remaining in anthers (as a proxy for pollen removal) and pollen deposition on stigmas, and assessing female reproductive success through fruit set and seed viability.
• The S-styled presented larger bracts (10.1%), and longer flowers (18.3%) than L-styled morph. Bract size did not affect pollen deposition; however, L-styled morph received about 3.3 times more pollen than S-styled. Bract size showed negative relationships with fruit set and fruit size, and a positive relationship with bract mortality. Seed traits were not influenced by bract size or morph type.
• Despite morphological differences, no marked differences in reproductive function were detected. Larger bracts may require resource costs that limit reproductive success, whereas smaller bracts may allow more efficient allocation to fruit production, increasing fruit set.
Abstract
Keywords
Distyly, Floral display, Pollination, Reproductive biology, Reproductive function, Reproductive systems
Citation
ANDERSSON, Julia Simões; OLIVEIRA, Paulo Eugênio. Investigating the reproductive function of floral morphs in a distylous hummingbird-pollinated plant. 2026. 23 f. Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Graduação em Ciências Biológicas) - Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 2026.
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