TY - JOUR
T1 - Flower and fruit structure of the endangered species Petagnaea gussonei (Sprengel) Rauschert (Saniculoideae, Apiaceae) and implications for its reproductive biology
AU - Gianguzzi, Lorenzo Antonino
AU - Colombo, Paolo
AU - De Castro, Olga
AU - Perrone, Rosaria
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Anatomy; breeding system; endemic; flower; fruit; micromorphology; Petagnaea gussonei; seed dispersal; Sicily; Plant Science; Ecology
KW - Behavior and Systematics
KW - Evolution
KW - Anatomy; breeding system; endemic; flower; fruit; micromorphology; Petagnaea gussonei; seed dispersal; Sicily; Plant Science; Ecology
KW - Behavior and Systematics
KW - Evolution
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10447/124513
UR - http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/11263504.asp
M3 - Article
VL - 149
SP - 1042
EP - 1051
JO - PLANT BIOSYSTEMS
JF - PLANT BIOSYSTEMS
SN - 1126-3504
ER -