Plant Sex: Mating Systems, Pollination, and Clonality

Question 1

Asexual reproduction

Answer 1

Produces genetically identical daughter plants (ramets)

Question 2

Sexual reproduction

Answer 2

Produces genetically distinct daughter plants (genets)

Question 3

Vegetative reproduction structures

Answer 3

Stolen
Rhizomes
Bulbs
Suckers
Layering
Apomixis

Question 4

Stolon (runner)

Answer 4

Branches on surface

Question 5

Rhizome

Answer 5

Underground stem

Question 6

Bulbs (corm)

Answer 6

Underground rosette

Question 7

Suckers

Answer 7

Buds forming on shallow roots

Question 8

Layering

Answer 8

Stems form adventitous roots

Question 9

Apomixis

Answer 9

Asexual seed production

Question 10

Clone structure

Answer 10

Phalanx (clumping)
Guerilla (spreading)

Question 11

Phalanx

Answer 11

Tightly packed ramets

Question 12

Guerilla

Answer 12

Widely spread ramets

Question 13

Phalanx vs guerilla tactics

Answer 13

Phalanx is better at exploiting high nutrient resources
Guerilla is better at finding new patches

Question 14

Clonal integration

Answer 14

An initial investment of carbon and nutrients from parent as a new ramet forms. Some clones break apart rapidly while others maintain connections for long time spans

Question 15

Benefits of integration

Answer 15

Avoid kin competition
Integrate environmental conditions over entire clone
Improve defensive signaling

Question 16

Benefits of separation

Answer 16

Increase lifespan of individual clones
Decrease cost of maintaining connection
Allow independent timing of flowering

Question 17

Agamospermy

Answer 17

Asexual production of seeds (apomixis) which lacks recombination

Question 18

Mating systems

Answer 18

Governs with whom a plant mates

Question 19

How are plants divided in the mating system?

Answer 19

Autogamous
Facultative self compatible
Allogamous

Question 20

Autogamous

Answer 20

Inbreeding, flowers that always self-fertilize

Question 21

Facultative self compatible

Answer 21

Can either self fertilize or outcross

Question 22

Allogamous

Answer 22

Outbreeding, plants that never self fertilize

Question 23

Autogamous mating systems

Answer 23

Autogamy
Geitonogamy
Cleistogamy

Question 24

Autogamy

Answer 24

Fertilization within same flower

Question 25

Geitonogamy

Answer 25

Pollen movement from 1 flower to another on same plant

Question 26

Cleistogamy

Answer 26

Flowers that never open, entirely self pollinated

Question 27

Hermaphroditic plants

Answer 27

Most common of all plant species where the male and female are on same plant. There are often mechanisms to avoid self fertilization

Question 28

Monoecious flowers

Answer 28

Separate sexed flowers

Question 29

Hermaphroditic flowers

Answer 29

Bisexual flowers

Question 30

Heterospecific pollen tranfers

Answer 30

Pollination typically requires conspecific pollen. Heterospecific pollen transfer can reduce pollination success

Question 31

Outbreeding mechanisms (pollination syndromes)

Answer 31

Wind Animals/insects Water

Question 32

Wind pollination

Answer 32

Common among coniferous trees and grasses (sometimes angiosperms)

Question 33

Wind pollinated flower characteristics

Answer 33

Lack of pollinator attractors Exposed anthers and small pollen grains Feathery stigma to catch pollen

Question 34

Masting

Answer 34

Wind pollinated plants synchronize reproduction

Question 35

2 main hypothesises about masting

Answer 35

Seed predator satiation Improved pollination efficiency Optimal environmental conditions

Question 36

Animal based pollination

Answer 36

Animals/insects visits flowers to get rewards and thus transfer pollen among or within individuals

Question 37

Pollinator attraction cues

Answer 37

Infloresence shape and size Flower colour Flower rewards Floral scents Auditory cues

Question 38

High heterospecific floral densities can __________ heterospecific pollen transfer

Answer 38

Increase

Question 39

Pollinator fidelity

Answer 39

Plants try to limit heterospecific pollen transfer by increasing pollinator fidelity

Question 40

Vertebrate pollination

Answer 40

Incredibly important for pollination of some species

Question 41

Deceptive orchids

Answer 41

Provide chemical cues to trick insects into thinking they are finding a mate

Question 42

Nectar robbers

Answer 42

Cut into side of flowers to get nectar without pollinating the plant

Question 43

Cost of males

Answer 43

An asexual female producing only daughters will have a greater fitness than a sexual counterpart

Question 44

Loss of local genetic adaptation

Answer 44

A plant reaching reproductive age at a location with environmental conditions to which it is adapted to, so why risk changing a good thing

Question 45

Major benefits of sexual reproduction

Answer 45

Genetically different offpring which allows them to deal with fluctuating environments, sibling competition, and host-pathogen interactions

Question 46

Allocation to sexual reproduction may be more likely when resources are in _____

Answer 46

Excess

Question 47

Abandon ship hypothesis

Answer 47

In poor environments, invest all energy in sexual reproduction rather than growth. It increases genetic diversity in offspring and gives them a chance to find a better environment