OBJECTIVE:To investigate the antioxidant property and potential ameliorating effective ingredients for high altitude-induced fatigue from Gansu Maxianhao(Pedicularis Kansuensis Maxim.).METHODS:Macroporous adsorptive r...OBJECTIVE:To investigate the antioxidant property and potential ameliorating effective ingredients for high altitude-induced fatigue from Gansu Maxianhao(Pedicularis Kansuensis Maxim.).METHODS:Macroporous adsorptive resin combined with polyamide chromatographic column was used to obtain water extract(P1),high polar part(P2),iridoid glycosides part(P3)and phenylethanoid glycosides part(P4)of Gansu Maxianhao(Pedicularis Kansuensis Maxim.).Antioxidant activity of each part was investigated employing a series of in vitro models.Hematoxylin-eosin staining,analysis of blood biochemical parameters,along with molecular analyses examining oxidative stress makers,metabolite,metabolic enzyme and energy substance in liver,skeletal muscle and/or serum were further measured.RESULTS:The results showed phenylethanoid glycosides(Ph Gs)exhibited more effective with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability,2-2-Azinbis(3-ehtylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfnic Acid)Diammonium Salt+scavenging activity,hydroxyl radical scavenging activity,reducing ability and antioxidant activity to varying extents.Under a hypobaric hypoxia attack in a hypobaric chamber(8000 m,7 consecutive days),Ph Gs was administered to BALB/C mice at doses of 50,200,400 mg/kg and antifatigue property was evaluated using a swimming test at an altitude of 4000 m.The results showed that Ph Gs of Gansu Maxianhao(Pedicularis Kansuensis Maxim.)could significantly prolong the burden swimming time of mice,reduce the hypoxia-induced oxidative stress,remove the accumulated products of metabolism,improve the energy metabolism as well as improve preservation of endogenous glycogen stores.CONCLUSION:The ameliorating effect against altitude-induced fatigue of Ph Gs from Gansu Maxianhao(Pedicularis Kansuensis Maxim.)might come from the alleviation of oxidative stress,reduction of the adverse metabolic products,normalizing energy metabolism and increasing energy substances reserves.Ph Gs is a potential antioxidant and novel remedy for fatigue due to high-altitude hypoxia.展开更多
A new iridoid glycoside 1 and a new iridoid 2 were isolated from the whole plant of Pedicularis kansuensis f. albiflora. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopie methods.
Haustorium formation is the characteristic feature of all parasitic plants and a vital process for successful parasitism.Previous investigations on haustorium initiation and development are constricted to induced proc...Haustorium formation is the characteristic feature of all parasitic plants and a vital process for successful parasitism.Previous investigations on haustorium initiation and development are constricted to induced processes by host-derived signals or synthetic analogs.Spontaneous haustorium formation in the absence of host signals,a process representing an early stage in the evolution of parasitic plants,remains largely unexplored.Lack of fast and frequent formation of spontaneous haustoria greatly hinders full understanding of haustorium formation in root hemiparasites.In this study,seedlings of Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim.,a facultative root hemiparasitic species in Orobanchaceae observed to produce many spontaneous haustoria,were grown in autoclaved water agar in the absence of any known haustoriuminducing stimulants.We aimed to test the temporal and developmental pattern of spontaneous haustorium formation.Also,effects of sucrose supply and root contact on spontaneous haustorium formation were tested.Spontaneous haustoria were observed starting from six days after germination,much earlier than previously reported root hemiparasites.A majority of the spontaneous haustoria formed on lateral roots.Percentage of seedlings with spontaneous haustoria was 28.8% when grown on water agar plates,with a mean of four haustoria per seedling two weeks after germination.Haustorium formation by seedlings grown in water agar amended with 2% sucrose was more than twice of those without sucrose amendment.Singly grown seedlings were able to develop spontaneous haustoria at similar levels as those grown with another conspecific seedling.In view of the fast and abundant formation of spontaneous haustoria,P.kansuensis may be developed as an excellent experimental system in future investigations for unraveling endogenous regulation of haustorium initiation and development in root hemiparasitic plants.展开更多
A new neolignan glycoside named armaoside (1) was isolated from the whole plant of Pedicularis armata Maxim. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Antibacterial assay showed that it has m...A new neolignan glycoside named armaoside (1) was isolated from the whole plant of Pedicularis armata Maxim. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Antibacterial assay showed that it has moderately antibacterial activities against Eschecichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.展开更多
Phenotypic plasticity and/or pollinatormediated selection may be responsible for the changes in floral traits of plants when they are forced to live in new conditions. Although the two events could be independent, we ...Phenotypic plasticity and/or pollinatormediated selection may be responsible for the changes in floral traits of plants when they are forced to live in new conditions. Although the two events could be independent, we hypothesized that phenotypic plasticity in floral traits might help to coordinate plant-pollinator interactions and enhance plant reproductive success in changing habitats. To test this hypothesis, we investigated floral traits and pollination on three natural populations of a lousewort(Pedicularis siphonantha) ranging at different elevations, as well as two downward transplanted populations in Shangeri-La County and Deqin County, northwest Yunnan, China. The results indicated that floral traits, i.e. phenology, longevity,display size, corolla tube length and pollen production differed significantly among populations. Moreover,or the two transplanted populations, floral traits diverged from their original populations, but converged to their host populations. Although the phenotypic plasticity in floral traits might be a rapid response to abiotic factor such as warmer environment, the changes in floral traits were found to be well adapted to pollination environment of the host population. Compared with plants of their original habitats in higher elevation, the transplanted individuals advanced flowering time, shortened flower longevity, reduced floral display size and pollen production, received higher visiting frequency and yielded more seeds. These findings suggested that phenotypic plasticity of floral traits might help plants adjust their resource allocation strategy between preand post-pollination stages in response to harsh or temperate conditions, which might correspondingly meet a pollinator-poor or hyphen rich environment.This would be beneficial for the widely-distributed species to adapt to various environmental changes.展开更多
Two new iridoid glycosides,plicatoside A and plicatoside B,were isolated from whole plants of Pedicularis plicata.Their structures were identified as 2'-O-β-D-glucosyl ixoroside and 4'-O-β-D-xylosyl mussaeno...Two new iridoid glycosides,plicatoside A and plicatoside B,were isolated from whole plants of Pedicularis plicata.Their structures were identified as 2'-O-β-D-glucosyl ixoroside and 4'-O-β-D-xylosyl mussaenoside by means of chemical evidence and spectral data.展开更多
Floral traits modify pollinator behavior and shape the plant-pollinator interaction pattern at ecological and evolutionary levels. Biomechanical traits are important in mediating interactions between flowers and their...Floral traits modify pollinator behavior and shape the plant-pollinator interaction pattern at ecological and evolutionary levels. Biomechanical traits are important in mediating interactions between flowers and their pollinators in some cases, such as in buzz pollination. During buzz pollination, a bee produces vibrations using its thoracic muscles and transfers these vibrations primarily through its mandibles as it bites the flower. The interaction between buzz-pollinated flowers and their pollinators is influenced by their physical size relative to each other, but the drivers of these size-dependent associations remain unclear. Using eight beaked louseworts(Pedicularis) as a model system, we combined behavioral observations, biomechanical analyses, and pollinator network analyses to test the hypothesis that the location of where a bee bites should constrain the interaction between Pedicularis and bumblebees during buzz pollination. We found that bumblebees always chose to bite the same site at the base of the floral beak when buzzing Pedicularis, and this site is optimal for transferring vibrations from the bee to release pollen from the anthers. Bee bodies must be long enough for the mandibles to clamp onto the same optimal site on the floral beak, while its pollen-collecting abdomen is positioned at the opening of the floral beak where pollen grains are ejected. Our pollination networks showed size matching between the floral beak length of each Pedicularis species and the body length of individual bumblebees regardless of bee species. These results suggest that the optimal excitation point on the Pedicularis flower links a suite of floral traits to its pollinators' dimensions, potentially contributing to prezygotic isolation among co-flowering, sympatric Pedicularis species.展开更多
During investigation of the chemical constituents of the whole plant ethanol extract of Pedlcularis dollchocymba Hand.-Mazz. （Scrophularlaceae）, four new irldold glycosides, dolichocymbosides A （compound 1）, B （c...During investigation of the chemical constituents of the whole plant ethanol extract of Pedlcularis dollchocymba Hand.-Mazz. （Scrophularlaceae）, four new irldold glycosides, dolichocymbosides A （compound 1）, B （compound 2）, C （compound 3） and D （compound 4）, were Isolated. Their structures were determined based on spectral data Including 1D and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy （^1H-^1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY） and FAB-MS.展开更多
Using pulse radiolysis technique, the reaction between hydroxyl radical and 7 phenylpropanoidglycosides: echinacoside, verbascoside, leucosceptoside A, martynoside, pediculariosides A, M and N which were isolated from...Using pulse radiolysis technique, the reaction between hydroxyl radical and 7 phenylpropanoidglycosides: echinacoside, verbascoside, leucosceptoside A, martynoside, pediculariosides A, M and N which were isolated from Pedicularis were examined. The rate constants of these reactions were determined by transient absorption spectra. All 7 phenylpropanoid glycosides react with hydroxyl radical at high rate constants within (0.97-1.91)×1010L · mol-1 · s-1. suggesting that they are effective hydroxyl radical scavengers. The results demonstrate that the numbers of phenolic hydroxyl groups of phenylpropanoid glycosides are directly related to their scavenging activities. The scavenging activities are likely related to o-dihydroxy group of phenylpropanoid glycosides as well.展开更多
Summary Darwin proposed that pollen size should be positively correlated with stigma depth rather than style length among species given that pollen tubes first enter the stigma autotrophically, then grow through the s...Summary Darwin proposed that pollen size should be positively correlated with stigma depth rather than style length among species given that pollen tubes first enter the stigma autotrophically, then grow through the style heterotrophically. However, studies often show a posi-tive relationship between pollen size and style length. Five floral traits were observed to be correlated among 42 bumblebee-pollinated Pedicularis species （Orobancha- ceae） in which stigmas are distinct from styles. The phylogenetic independent contrast analysis revealed that pollen grain volume was more strongly correlated with stigma depth than with style length, consistent with Darwin＇s functional hypothesis between pollen size and stigma depth.展开更多
Floral nectar is thought to be one of the most important rewards that attract pollinators in Pedicularis; however, few studies have examined variation of nectary structure and/or nectar secretion in the genus, particu...Floral nectar is thought to be one of the most important rewards that attract pollinators in Pedicularis; however, few studies have examined variation of nectary structure and/or nectar secretion in the genus, particularly among closely related species. Here we investigated nectary morphology, nectar quality, and nectar production dynamics in flowers of Pedicularis section Cyathophora. We found a conical floral nectary at the base of the ovary in species of the rex-thamnophila clade. Stomata were found on the sudace of the nectary, and copious starch grains were detected in the nectary tissues. In contrast, a semi-annular nectary was found in flowers of the species of the superba clade. Only a few starch grains were observed in tissues of the semi-annular nectary, and the nectar sugar concentration in these flowers was much lower than that in the flowers of the rexthamnophila clade. Our results indicate that the floral nectary has experienced considerable morphological, structural, and functional differentiation among closely related species of Pedicularis. This could have affected nectar production, leading to a shift of the pollination mode. Our results also imply that variation of the nectary morphology and nectar production may have played an important role in the speciation of sect. Cyathophora.展开更多
The Pedicularis species provides ideal materials to study floral evolution because of their substantial flower variation based on a narrow genetic basis, even though they are almost exclusively pollinated by bumblebee...The Pedicularis species provides ideal materials to study floral evolution because of their substantial flower variation based on a narrow genetic basis, even though they are almost exclusively pollinated by bumblebee. These traits allow us to detect the evolutionary trends of floral parameters without considering genetic background and the difference of pollination vectors. The pollen-ovule ratio is widely used to estimate the pattern of resource investment in two sexual functions in flowering plants. Forty species representing all of the corolla types in Pedicularls were used to study pollen-ovule ratio, gamete investment, and their correlations. Results show that pollen-ovule ratio does not differ among both different corolla types and taxonomic groups. It is therefore suggested that pollen-ovule ratio should be a parallel evolution. The correlations between pollen-ovule ratio and pollen size （-）, and ovule size （＋） can be successfully explained in terms of sex allocation theory. The biological significance of such relationships was also discussed. Additionally, we analyzed the pattern of resource investment into female gamete, which has been somewhat neglected, and found that plants have different patterns of gamete investment between the two sexual functions.展开更多
The evolution of long corolla tubes has been hypothesized to be driven by long-tongued pollinators.Corolla tubes in Pedicularis species can be longer than 10 cm which may function as flower stalks to increase visual a...The evolution of long corolla tubes has been hypothesized to be driven by long-tongued pollinators.Corolla tubes in Pedicularis species can be longer than 10 cm which may function as flower stalks to increase visual attractiveness to pollinators because these species provide no nectar and are pollinated by bumblebees. The corolla tube length was manipulated（shorter or longer） in two Pedicularis species in field to examine whether longer tubes are more attractive to pollinators and produce more seeds than short tubes. Our results did not support the pollinator attraction hypothesis, leaving the evolution of long tubes in Pedicularis remains mysterious.展开更多
基金Supported by Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration,Gansu Province:Study on the Active Constituents of Tibetan Medicine Pedicularis to Improve Plateau Exercise Efficiency(GZK-2015-59)Project of Military Medical and Health Research,PLA:Exploring the Role and Mechanism of the Prevention of High Altitude Cerebral Edema by Tibetan Medicine Pangxiejia(P.Kawaguchii Murata)Based on Inflammatory Response Induced by Hypobaric Hypoxia(CLZ15JA05,CLZ15JB04).
文摘OBJECTIVE:To investigate the antioxidant property and potential ameliorating effective ingredients for high altitude-induced fatigue from Gansu Maxianhao(Pedicularis Kansuensis Maxim.).METHODS:Macroporous adsorptive resin combined with polyamide chromatographic column was used to obtain water extract(P1),high polar part(P2),iridoid glycosides part(P3)and phenylethanoid glycosides part(P4)of Gansu Maxianhao(Pedicularis Kansuensis Maxim.).Antioxidant activity of each part was investigated employing a series of in vitro models.Hematoxylin-eosin staining,analysis of blood biochemical parameters,along with molecular analyses examining oxidative stress makers,metabolite,metabolic enzyme and energy substance in liver,skeletal muscle and/or serum were further measured.RESULTS:The results showed phenylethanoid glycosides(Ph Gs)exhibited more effective with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability,2-2-Azinbis(3-ehtylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfnic Acid)Diammonium Salt+scavenging activity,hydroxyl radical scavenging activity,reducing ability and antioxidant activity to varying extents.Under a hypobaric hypoxia attack in a hypobaric chamber(8000 m,7 consecutive days),Ph Gs was administered to BALB/C mice at doses of 50,200,400 mg/kg and antifatigue property was evaluated using a swimming test at an altitude of 4000 m.The results showed that Ph Gs of Gansu Maxianhao(Pedicularis Kansuensis Maxim.)could significantly prolong the burden swimming time of mice,reduce the hypoxia-induced oxidative stress,remove the accumulated products of metabolism,improve the energy metabolism as well as improve preservation of endogenous glycogen stores.CONCLUSION:The ameliorating effect against altitude-induced fatigue of Ph Gs from Gansu Maxianhao(Pedicularis Kansuensis Maxim.)might come from the alleviation of oxidative stress,reduction of the adverse metabolic products,normalizing energy metabolism and increasing energy substances reserves.Ph Gs is a potential antioxidant and novel remedy for fatigue due to high-altitude hypoxia.
文摘A new iridoid glycoside 1 and a new iridoid 2 were isolated from the whole plant of Pedicularis kansuensis f. albiflora. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopie methods.
基金financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China(31370512,U1303201,and 31400440)Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan Province(2016FB059)+1 种基金funding for Airong Li from The Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciencesthe Young Academic and Technical Leader Raising Foundation of Yunnan Province(2014HB047)
文摘Haustorium formation is the characteristic feature of all parasitic plants and a vital process for successful parasitism.Previous investigations on haustorium initiation and development are constricted to induced processes by host-derived signals or synthetic analogs.Spontaneous haustorium formation in the absence of host signals,a process representing an early stage in the evolution of parasitic plants,remains largely unexplored.Lack of fast and frequent formation of spontaneous haustoria greatly hinders full understanding of haustorium formation in root hemiparasites.In this study,seedlings of Pedicularis kansuensis Maxim.,a facultative root hemiparasitic species in Orobanchaceae observed to produce many spontaneous haustoria,were grown in autoclaved water agar in the absence of any known haustoriuminducing stimulants.We aimed to test the temporal and developmental pattern of spontaneous haustorium formation.Also,effects of sucrose supply and root contact on spontaneous haustorium formation were tested.Spontaneous haustoria were observed starting from six days after germination,much earlier than previously reported root hemiparasites.A majority of the spontaneous haustoria formed on lateral roots.Percentage of seedlings with spontaneous haustoria was 28.8% when grown on water agar plates,with a mean of four haustoria per seedling two weeks after germination.Haustorium formation by seedlings grown in water agar amended with 2% sucrose was more than twice of those without sucrose amendment.Singly grown seedlings were able to develop spontaneous haustoria at similar levels as those grown with another conspecific seedling.In view of the fast and abundant formation of spontaneous haustoria,P.kansuensis may be developed as an excellent experimental system in future investigations for unraveling endogenous regulation of haustorium initiation and development in root hemiparasitic plants.
文摘A new neolignan glycoside named armaoside (1) was isolated from the whole plant of Pedicularis armata Maxim. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Antibacterial assay showed that it has moderately antibacterial activities against Eschecichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31370263 and 31770255)
文摘Phenotypic plasticity and/or pollinatormediated selection may be responsible for the changes in floral traits of plants when they are forced to live in new conditions. Although the two events could be independent, we hypothesized that phenotypic plasticity in floral traits might help to coordinate plant-pollinator interactions and enhance plant reproductive success in changing habitats. To test this hypothesis, we investigated floral traits and pollination on three natural populations of a lousewort(Pedicularis siphonantha) ranging at different elevations, as well as two downward transplanted populations in Shangeri-La County and Deqin County, northwest Yunnan, China. The results indicated that floral traits, i.e. phenology, longevity,display size, corolla tube length and pollen production differed significantly among populations. Moreover,or the two transplanted populations, floral traits diverged from their original populations, but converged to their host populations. Although the phenotypic plasticity in floral traits might be a rapid response to abiotic factor such as warmer environment, the changes in floral traits were found to be well adapted to pollination environment of the host population. Compared with plants of their original habitats in higher elevation, the transplanted individuals advanced flowering time, shortened flower longevity, reduced floral display size and pollen production, received higher visiting frequency and yielded more seeds. These findings suggested that phenotypic plasticity of floral traits might help plants adjust their resource allocation strategy between preand post-pollination stages in response to harsh or temperate conditions, which might correspondingly meet a pollinator-poor or hyphen rich environment.This would be beneficial for the widely-distributed species to adapt to various environmental changes.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaFoundation for the Doctoral Programme from State Education Commission of China
文摘Two new iridoid glycosides,plicatoside A and plicatoside B,were isolated from whole plants of Pedicularis plicata.Their structures were identified as 2'-O-β-D-glucosyl ixoroside and 4'-O-β-D-xylosyl mussaenoside by means of chemical evidence and spectral data.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB31000000)the Special Foundation for National Science and Technology Basic Research Program of China (2021FY100200)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32071670)partially supported by a research grant from the Human Frontier Science Program (RGP0043/2022)partially supported by the National Science Foundation under awards No. CMMI-2221908 to MJ。
文摘Floral traits modify pollinator behavior and shape the plant-pollinator interaction pattern at ecological and evolutionary levels. Biomechanical traits are important in mediating interactions between flowers and their pollinators in some cases, such as in buzz pollination. During buzz pollination, a bee produces vibrations using its thoracic muscles and transfers these vibrations primarily through its mandibles as it bites the flower. The interaction between buzz-pollinated flowers and their pollinators is influenced by their physical size relative to each other, but the drivers of these size-dependent associations remain unclear. Using eight beaked louseworts(Pedicularis) as a model system, we combined behavioral observations, biomechanical analyses, and pollinator network analyses to test the hypothesis that the location of where a bee bites should constrain the interaction between Pedicularis and bumblebees during buzz pollination. We found that bumblebees always chose to bite the same site at the base of the floral beak when buzzing Pedicularis, and this site is optimal for transferring vibrations from the bee to release pollen from the anthers. Bee bodies must be long enough for the mandibles to clamp onto the same optimal site on the floral beak, while its pollen-collecting abdomen is positioned at the opening of the floral beak where pollen grains are ejected. Our pollination networks showed size matching between the floral beak length of each Pedicularis species and the body length of individual bumblebees regardless of bee species. These results suggest that the optimal excitation point on the Pedicularis flower links a suite of floral traits to its pollinators' dimensions, potentially contributing to prezygotic isolation among co-flowering, sympatric Pedicularis species.
基金Supported by the West Light Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation of China （30572258）. Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to the members of the analytical group from the State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, for their assistance with spectral measurements.
文摘During investigation of the chemical constituents of the whole plant ethanol extract of Pedlcularis dollchocymba Hand.-Mazz. （Scrophularlaceae）, four new irldold glycosides, dolichocymbosides A （compound 1）, B （compound 2）, C （compound 3） and D （compound 4）, were Isolated. Their structures were determined based on spectral data Including 1D and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy （^1H-^1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY） and FAB-MS.
基金Project partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and partly by Open Laboratory of Radiation Chemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
文摘Using pulse radiolysis technique, the reaction between hydroxyl radical and 7 phenylpropanoidglycosides: echinacoside, verbascoside, leucosceptoside A, martynoside, pediculariosides A, M and N which were isolated from Pedicularis were examined. The rate constants of these reactions were determined by transient absorption spectra. All 7 phenylpropanoid glycosides react with hydroxyl radical at high rate constants within (0.97-1.91)×1010L · mol-1 · s-1. suggesting that they are effective hydroxyl radical scavengers. The results demonstrate that the numbers of phenolic hydroxyl groups of phenylpropanoid glycosides are directly related to their scavenging activities. The scavenging activities are likely related to o-dihydroxy group of phenylpropanoid glycosides as well.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grants no.31270281, U1402267) to SQH
文摘Summary Darwin proposed that pollen size should be positively correlated with stigma depth rather than style length among species given that pollen tubes first enter the stigma autotrophically, then grow through the style heterotrophically. However, studies often show a posi-tive relationship between pollen size and style length. Five floral traits were observed to be correlated among 42 bumblebee-pollinated Pedicularis species （Orobancha- ceae） in which stigmas are distinct from styles. The phylogenetic independent contrast analysis revealed that pollen grain volume was more strongly correlated with stigma depth than with style length, consistent with Darwin＇s functional hypothesis between pollen size and stigma depth.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31330008 and 31160047)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJZD-EW-L07)Science and Technology Basic Work (2013FY112100)
文摘Floral nectar is thought to be one of the most important rewards that attract pollinators in Pedicularis; however, few studies have examined variation of nectary structure and/or nectar secretion in the genus, particularly among closely related species. Here we investigated nectary morphology, nectar quality, and nectar production dynamics in flowers of Pedicularis section Cyathophora. We found a conical floral nectary at the base of the ovary in species of the rex-thamnophila clade. Stomata were found on the sudace of the nectary, and copious starch grains were detected in the nectary tissues. In contrast, a semi-annular nectary was found in flowers of the species of the superba clade. Only a few starch grains were observed in tissues of the semi-annular nectary, and the nectar sugar concentration in these flowers was much lower than that in the flowers of the rexthamnophila clade. Our results indicate that the floral nectary has experienced considerable morphological, structural, and functional differentiation among closely related species of Pedicularis. This could have affected nectar production, leading to a shift of the pollination mode. Our results also imply that variation of the nectary morphology and nectar production may have played an important role in the speciation of sect. Cyathophora.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （30500032） and the State Key Basic Research and Development Plan of China （2000046804）.
文摘The Pedicularis species provides ideal materials to study floral evolution because of their substantial flower variation based on a narrow genetic basis, even though they are almost exclusively pollinated by bumblebee. These traits allow us to detect the evolutionary trends of floral parameters without considering genetic background and the difference of pollination vectors. The pollen-ovule ratio is widely used to estimate the pattern of resource investment in two sexual functions in flowering plants. Forty species representing all of the corolla types in Pedicularls were used to study pollen-ovule ratio, gamete investment, and their correlations. Results show that pollen-ovule ratio does not differ among both different corolla types and taxonomic groups. It is therefore suggested that pollen-ovule ratio should be a parallel evolution. The correlations between pollen-ovule ratio and pollen size （-）, and ovule size （＋） can be successfully explained in terms of sex allocation theory. The biological significance of such relationships was also discussed. Additionally, we analyzed the pattern of resource investment into female gamete, which has been somewhat neglected, and found that plants have different patterns of gamete investment between the two sexual functions.
基金National Science Foundation of China (No. 31270281) to SQH supported this work
文摘The evolution of long corolla tubes has been hypothesized to be driven by long-tongued pollinators.Corolla tubes in Pedicularis species can be longer than 10 cm which may function as flower stalks to increase visual attractiveness to pollinators because these species provide no nectar and are pollinated by bumblebees. The corolla tube length was manipulated（shorter or longer） in two Pedicularis species in field to examine whether longer tubes are more attractive to pollinators and produce more seeds than short tubes. Our results did not support the pollinator attraction hypothesis, leaving the evolution of long tubes in Pedicularis remains mysterious.
