Abstract Detail

Reproductive Processes

Harrison, Jared Timothy [1], Stumbo, Joseph [2], Krakos, Dr. Kyra N. [1].

The floral traits and seed morphology of a potentially new species of Oenothera sect.Gaura in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas.

In the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas, there is a potentially hybrid in origin new species that have morphological traits that are intermediate between Oenothera nealleyi and Oenothera suffulta. A stabilized plant species should demonstrate true-breeding morphological traits. In this study, we compared the morphological traits of both O. suffulta and O. neallyi to the Oenothera intermediate populations to demonstrate that the intermediates display morphological characteristics for both hypothesized parent species. We hypothesized that the morphological traits of the Oenothera intermediate populations would be consistent across generations, both in field and greenhouse populations. To determine if the Oenothera intermediates displayed similar morphological traits to the hypothesized parent species we measured the presence of fruit stipes, inflorescent hairs and scent for populations grown in situ. We also measured the size of seed collections from both in situ and field populations. The morphological traits of the intermediate Oenothera are consistent across generations but are a combination of the hypothesized parent species in that they have glabrous inflorescent hairs, like O. nealleyi, non-stiped fruits like O. suffulta, and the presence of scent like O. neallyi. The average growth pattern for the intermediates was five months from seedling to reproductive adult. The size of the intermediate seeds was highly variable, but none of the second-generation crosses between intermediate populations had stipes. This is consistent with all the field populations of the intermediate Oenothera.

1 - Maryville University, 650 Maryville university Dr, St. Louis, MO, 63141, USA
2 - 10541 Anton Place, St.louis, MO, 63128, United States

Keywords:
Oenothera
Gaura
Seed Morphology
Hybrid species
floral traits.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Reproductive Processes Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 6:15 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: PRP010
Abstract ID:699
Candidate for Awards:None