Reproductive isolation in a native population of Petunia sensu Jussieu (Solanaceae)

Toshio Ando, Masashi Nomura, Jun Tsukahara, Hitoshi Watanabe, Hisashi Kokubun, Tatsuya Tsukamoto, Goro Hashimoto, Eduardo Marchesi, Ian J. Kitching

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87 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reproductive isolation was studied in four syntopic species of Petunia sensu Jussieu (Solanaceae) at a site in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Reciprocal artificial crossing experiments confirmed that a genetic barrier exists between Petunia (P. axillaris and P. integrifolia) and Calibrachoa (C. parviflora and C. heterophylla), and also between C. parviflora and C. heterophylla. Petunia axillaris (white, nocturnally scented flower) is genetically compatible with the syntopic and allotopic P. integrifolia (coloured, unscented flower). Reproductive isolation appears to be maintained by the two species having different pollinators: nocturnally active hawkmoths (Manduca contracta and M. diffissa subsp. petuniae) pollinate P. axillaris while a diurnally active bee (Hexantheda sp.) pollinates P. integrifolia. Flowers of P. integrifolia exhibit diurnal opening and closing movements synchronous with the activity period of the bee. Other than a probable nectar robber (a carpenter bee, Xylocopa augusti), no insect visited flowers of P. axillaris in the day. Amounts of floral nectar in P. axillaris and P. integrifolia were within the range of hawkmoth- and bee-pollinated flowers, respectively. Reproductive isolating mechanisms in the genus Petunia sensu Jussieu are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)403-413
Number of pages11
JournalAnnals of Botany
Volume88
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Calibrachoa
  • Hawkmoth
  • Petunia
  • Petunia axillaris
  • Petunia integrifolia
  • Pollinator
  • Reproductive isolation
  • Solanaceae

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