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The saga of pollination biology

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Nature at Work: Ongoing Saga of Evolution

Abstract

Developmental events leading to seed set in plants are broadly categorized into three phases of pollination biology: (1) formation of male and female gametes (2) dispersal and deposition of pollen grains on the pistils of individual of the same species and (3) pollen — pistil interaction leading to double-fertilization. Whereas the first and the third are under genotypic control, the second is largely influenced by the ecological conditions. Charles Darwin was among the first to recognize the functional components of pollen transfer or pollination. In accordance with the theme, we highlight the various aspects of pollination biology pertaining to the second event, which are fascinating and require careful observations.

Pollination is a fundamental and vital process in the perpetuation of angiosperms. The process of transfer of pollen to a receptive stigma of the same plant species is accomplished with utmost accuracy amidst various challenges such as immobility of plants and the vagaries of environment that carry the pollen. Flowering plants have accommodated both biotic and abiotic means of pollen transfer. A vast array of floral adaptations such as showiness, colouration, nectar guide-marks on petals, nectaries and floral rewards ensure the targeted delivery of pollen to a conspecific stigma.

The combination of floral adaptations — structure, aggregation, scent and display—result in an interplay of selection pressures that maximizes pollination efficiency. Consequently, every forager that visits a flower to seek rewards may not be a pollinator but a robber. Besides the structural organization of the flower, its functional morphology, blooming time, longevity and the innate genetic mechanisms further contribute to screening for fidelity in pollination. As pollination is a mutualistic interaction, the ecological domain has a crucial role in the timing of its occurrence. There are genetic consequences of the pattern of pollen-mediated gene flow in a community. On the other hand, a pollinator is only a forager which opportunistically seeks for a reward and relies on flowers of the other species, when a particular species ceases to bloom. Thus, studies on plant—pollinator interaction are now pursued at different levels of organization with growing emphasis on conserving and maintaining the networks. This paradigm shift arises because there is perceptive apprehension that habitat loss, fragmentation of ecosystems, notably forests, dislocation of overlapping of flowering time and the life cycles of pollinators due to changing climatic conditions and anthropogenic activities are likely to threaten mutualistic interactions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India

    Rajesh Tandon

  2. 194, SFS DDA Flats, Mukherji Nagar, Delhi, 110 009, India

    H. Y. Mohan Ram (INSA Honorary Senior Scientist)

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  1. Rajesh Tandon
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  2. H. Y. Mohan Ram
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  1. CRDT, IIT, Delhi, India

    Vinod P. Sharma

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© 2010 The National Academy of Sciences, India

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Tandon, R., Ram, H.Y.M. (2010). The saga of pollination biology. In: Sharma, V.P. (eds) Nature at Work: Ongoing Saga of Evolution. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-8489-992-4_14

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