6533b7d8fe1ef96bd126a4c9
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Flower and fruit structure of the endangered species Petagnaea gussonei (Sprengel) Rauschert (Saniculoideae, Apiaceae) and implications for its reproductive biology
O. De CastroRosaria PerronePaolo ColomboLorenzo Antonino Gianguzzisubject
Settore BIO/02 - Botanica SistematicaSeed dispersalEndangered speciesAllogamyAsexual reproductionAnatomy; breeding system; endemic; flower; fruit; micromorphology; Petagnaea gussonei; seed dispersal; Sicily; Plant Science; Ecology Evolution Behavior and SystematicsfruitPlant ScienceBiologymicromorphologybiology.organism_classificationbreeding systemPetagnaeaGeitonogamyflowerseed dispersalHermaphroditeSettore BIO/03 - Botanica Ambientale E ApplicataBotanyBiological dispersalPetagnaea gussoneiendemicAnatomySicilyEcology Evolution Behavior and Systematicsdescription
Petagnaea gussonei (Apiaceae) is an endangered species endemic to the Nebrodi mountains (north-eastern Sicily). Although an increasing number of studies have been performed on this species, its reproductive biology remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate in detail the structure of the flower and the fruit of Petagnaea, and the possible implications for its breeding system and seed dispersal mechanism. Results from fieldwork, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy suggest (1) the presence of protandrous hermaphrodite flowers; (2) geitonogamy, autogamy, and allogamy as breeding system mechanisms of P. gussonei, even if asexual reproduction is preferred by the plant; and (3) epizoochory and hydrochory as possible modalities of fruit dispersal.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-03-09 |