Access
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
Brief Communications
Nature 410, 432 (22 March 2001) | doi:10.1038/35068635
Open Innovation Challenges
-
Novel Approaches to Protecting Maize from Insect Damage
The Seeker is looking for novel approaches to protecting maize from insect damage. This Challenge re...
-
Single-cell Analysis Platform
This Challenge is looking for novel approaches to analyzing changes at a single-cell level. This is...
- More Challenges
- Powered by:
nature jobs
Two Post-Doctoral Position In Nanomedicine
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta" (FINCB)
- Via Celoria n.11, 20133 Milano, Italy
Organic Chemistry
- Praj Matrix - Praj Industries Ltd
- Pune, Maharashtra Pune-411021 India
Pollination: Flexible style that encourages outcrossing
Qing-Jun Li1,3, Zai-Fu Xu1, W. John Kress2, Yong-Mei Xia1, Ling Zhang1, Xiao-Bao Deng1, Jiang-Yun Gao1 & Zhi-Lin Bai1
Abstract
Despite the convenience of self-pollination (selfing) in flowering plants 1, 2, 3, the detrimental effects of inbreeding that follow repeated selfing3, 4 have promoted strong natural selection for mating systems that ensure successful cross-fertilization (outcrossing). Here we describe a mechanism deployed by some tropical ginger flowers to avoid self-pollination — the flower moves its stigma (style), which normally acts as the pollen receptor, out of the way while its anther is releasing pollen. This cunning evasion adds to the diversity of pollination strategies that have contributed to the evolutionary success of flowering plants.
To read this story in full you will need to login or make a payment (see right).
