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http://dx.doi.org/10.11614/KSL.2017.50.1.116

Mating Systems and Flowering Characteristics of Megaleranthis saniculifolia Ohwi in a Subalpine Zone of Sobaeksan National Park  

Lee, Hakbong (School of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Sungshin University)
Lee, Hyeseon (Department of Forest Management, College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University)
Kang, Hyesoon (School of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, Sungshin University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment / v.50, no.1, 2017 , pp. 116-125 More about this Journal
Abstract
Alpine plants with a scarcity of pollinators in harsh environments have been believed to undergo selfing for reproductive assurance; however, contradictory evidence is also available. Snowmelt regimes in alpine areas function to change life history characteristics of alpine plants such as flowering time and duration; yet the effects of snowmelt regimes have never been tested in alpine plants in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the dichogamy, mating systems, and flowering characteristics of Megaleranthis saniculifolia populations [early and late snowmelt plots (ESP and LSP, respectively)] in a subalpine area of Sobaeksan Mountain in Korea. M. saniculifolia exhibited incomplete protogyny in that despite early maturation of pistils, maturation times of pistils and stamens within flowers were partly overlapped. Control and hand-outcrossing treatments produced significantly higher number of follicles and seeds per flower than autonomous and hand-selfing treatments. Based on the aggregate fruit set, the auto-fertility index (AI) and self-compatibility index (SI) were 0.33 and 0.50, respectively. Snowmelt occurred 10 days earlier in ESP than in LSP, thereby ESP and LSP showed distinct differences with regard to flower longevity and season, but showing no difference in peak flowering dates. We concluded that M. saniculifolia is an incomplete protogynous and largely outcrossing plant requiring pollinator service. Temporal variation in snowmelt time and subsequent changes in flowering characteristics under climate change may further threaten the population persistence of M. saniculifolia which has already been designated as endangered species in Korea.
Keywords
flowering phenology; incomplete protogyny; mating systems; Megaleranthis saniculifolia; snow regime;
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