Abstract Detail

Ecology

Florez, Juan [1], Pretz, Chelsea [2], Smith, Stacey [3].

Investigation into the relationships between pollen tube growth and calyx development.

Species within the Physalis genus have been documented to vary in their production of calyx in interspecific and self-crosses. Some species such as P. heterophylla have been observed to produce inflated calyx despite bearing no fruit. This variation of calyx development observed in previous studies leads to the question of why Physalis crosses would invest energy into reproductive structures that bear no fruit. A possible explanation could be pollen tube growth triggers the calyx development process without fertilization of the ovules. I have tested to see if the pollen tube reaches a certain threshold within the style a calyx will begin to develop, regardless if it reaches the ovule. I have observed two Physalis species, P. cinerascens and P. heterophylla, and exposed them to three different treatments (self-crossing, interspecific, and emasculation as the control). To determine calyx developments,I have categorized the development into three phenotypes; flower death, calyx development without fruit, and calyx development with fruit. Pollen tube development in the styles from a sample of five specimens from each treatment group will collected at temporal intervals of 12, 24, and 36 hours after pollination. To determine pollen tube growth I have used the aniline blue epifluorescence staining techniques and a fluorescent microscope, the ratio of pollen tube growth to style length will be measured. An ANOVA statistical is used to analyze if there is any significant relationship between pollen tube length and calyx development. I expected phenotypes that died without producing fruit would have a ratio of below 0.25, phenotypes that produced calyx but not fruit have a ratio greater than 0.25 without reaching the ovule, and phenotypes that produce calyx with fruit have pollen tubes reaching the all the way to the ovule.

1 - 750 Walnut Street, Unit D, Boulder, CO, 80302, United States
2 - 2030 Athens Ct, Apt E, Boulder, CO, 80302, United States
3 - University Of Colorado-Boulder, EBIO Department, Campus Box 0334, Boulder, CO, 80309, United States

Keywords:
Physalis
inflated calyx
Solanaceae
development
pollination biology.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Ecology Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PEC029
Abstract ID:898
Candidate for Awards:None