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Taylor and Francis Group, Grana, 4(49), p. 300-307, 2010

DOI: 10.1080/00173134.2010.522728

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Pollen production in halophytic species of the Chenopodiaceae in a Mediterranean marsh

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

The pollen production per anther has been analysed in ten species of Chenopodiaceae that grow in the salt marshes of the Marismas del Odiel Natural Park (Huelva, south-west Spain). The mean pollen production per anther is 5819, ranged from 580 in Salicornia ramosissima to 12 467 in Salsola vermiculata, and is related to the size of the anthers. In six of the species, pollen production per anther has been studied in two populations and a strong interaction between species and populations was found. Pollen production of central and lateral flowers has been compared in four species, showing that central flowers produce significantly more pollen than lateral ones. In Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, a comparison between the pollen production of upper and lower stamens was performed and no significant differences were found. The pollen/ovule (P/O) ratio has been estimated for each of the species studied for the monoecious species, using the previously calculated male flower/female flower ratio. The monoecious species have the highest P/O ratios, followed by those with hermaphrodite flowers and allogamous reproduction. The lowest P/O ratios were found in Salicornia ramosissima (681) and Suaeda albescens (6025), possibly due to them being autogamous, which is consistent with the annual cycle and ecology of the species. The biggest value was found in the monoecious species Halimione portulacoides (88 405). In the remainder of the species, the P/O ratio depends on the density of individuals of each species in the communities.