Floral Structure, Stigma Receptivity and Pollen Viability in Relation to Protandry in Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.)

Author: Aydin Shekari*, Mohammad Hadi Mahdipour**, Vahideh Nazeri*** and Majid Shokrpour****

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Abstract

Leonurus cardiaca, commonly known as motherwort, is a member of the Lamiaceae family. It has been used in the traditional medicine against nervous and functional cardiac disorders since the 15th century and now is described in pharmacopoeias for producing sedative, hypotensive and cardiotonic pharmacological effects. This experiment was accordingly conducted to investigate the flower structure, flower biology, pollination system, and breeding system. Autogamy, apomixy, xenogamy, and open pollination were examined by Cruden's method. The results show that L. cardiaca flowers are hermaphrodite and short-lived, which are arranged in raceme-like cyme inflorescences. Protandry is the dominant form, and the stigma reaches its most receptivity 48 hours after anthesis, while the highest in-vitro pollen germination is observed within two hours after anthesis. The style continues to growth after anthesis, reaching its maximum length 48 hours after flower opening, coinciding with the separation o

Keywords

Facultative outcrossing, pollination, protandry, Lamiaceae family

Conclusion

Leonurus cardiaca, commonly known as motherwort, is a member of the Lamiaceae family. It has been used in the traditional medicine against nervous and functional cardiac disorders since the 15th century and now is described in pharmacopoeias for producing sedative, hypotensive and cardiotonic pharmacological effects. This experiment was accordingly conducted to investigate the flower structure, flower biology, pollination system, and breeding system. Autogamy, apomixy, xenogamy, and open pollination were examined by Cruden's method. The results show that L. cardiaca flowers are hermaphrodite and short-lived, which are arranged in raceme-like cyme inflorescences. Protandry is the dominant form, and the stigma reaches its most receptivity 48 hours after anthesis, while the highest in-vitro pollen germination is observed within two hours after anthesis. The style continues to growth after anthesis, reaching its maximum length 48 hours after flower opening, coinciding with the separation o

References

The reproductive biology of flowering plants is important to determine barriers to seed and fruit set, to conserve them, and to understand the pollination and breeding systems that regulate the genetic structure of populations (Tandon et al., 2003, Barrett, 2010). The timing of flowering can strongly influence the reproductive success of a plant in several ways (Rathckeand Lacey, 1985). Such effects may be mediated by abiotic factors and factors operating within plants, within populations, and between species (McIntosh, 2002).Variation in sexual plant breeding systems ranges from cleistogamy and in-bud pollination (mechanisms to ensure self-pollination) to dioecy and self-incompatibility (mechanisms that support cross-pollination). The pollen-ovule (P/O) ratio is an important floral trait that reflects the mating system of aplant (Cruden, 1977; Bennett, 1999; Jurgens et al., 2002). Cruden (1977) observed that out breeding plants tend to have higher P/O ratios. He explained this findi

How to cite this article

Aydin Shekari, Mohammad Hadi Mahdipour, Vahideh Nazeri and Majid Shokrpour (2017). Floral Structure, Stigma Receptivity and Pollen Viability in Relation to Protandry in Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.) Biological Forum – An International Journal 9(2)