Nectar Resorption and Translocation in Cucurbita pepo L. and Platanthera chlorantha Custer (Rchb.)

M. Nepi; M. Stpiczyńska

doi:10.1055/s-2006-924287

Plant Biology, Table of Contents

Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2007; 9(1): 93-100
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924287

Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Nectar Resorption and Translocation in Cucurbita pepo L. and Platanthera chlorantha Custer (Rchb.)

M. Nepi¹ , M. Stpiczyńska²

¹Department of Environmental Sciences “G. Sarfatti”, Botany Section, Siena University, via PA Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
²Department of Botany, Lublin Agricultural University, ul. Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

Abstract

Nectar resorption and sugar translocation were studied in Cucurbita pepo (Cucurbitaceae) and Platanthera chlorantha (Orchidaceae) by micro-autoradiography. In both species, nectar was resorbed in pollinated and unpollinated flowers and ovules developing into seeds were found to be the main sugar sink. In C. pepo, the mobility of resorbed sugars in pollinated female flowers was higher than in unpollinated ones; male flowers showed lower mobility of resorbed sugar. In P. chlorantha, radioactivity was detected in pollinated flowers below and above labelled unpollinated ones: the nearer the flower, the stronger the accumulation of label in developing fruits.

Key words

Cucurbita pepo - Platanthera chlorantha - floral nectary - pollination - nectar resorption - micro-autoradiography.

Full Text

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M. Nepi

Department of Environmental Sciences “G. Sarfatti”
Botany Section
Siena University

via PA Mattioli 4

53100 Siena

Italy

Email: nepim@unisi.it

Editor: A. Weber