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Acer pseudoplatanus (Sapindaceae): Heterodichogamy and thrips pollination

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Abstract

One of the pathways to dioecy is via heterodichogamy, a system including protandrous (flowering male first) and protogynous (female first) plants. Using a research crane the reproductive ecology of the heterodichogamous Acer pseudoplatanus was studied in 74 mature trees over 2 years. The synchronized flowering phenology of the trees resulted in reciprocal pollination between the two morphs. Protandrous trees were more numerous (3:1), had more female flowers (2–3:1), had much less pollen on their stigmas (1:15) and had a much lower seed to fruit ratio (1:3–4). The pollinators were probably breeding thrips. The heterodichogamy of A. pseudoplatanus is confirmed and underlined as a functioning ecological system. Depending on the way pollination efficiency changes in time, either of the morphs can be interpreted as “more female” or “more male”. The evolution of heterodichogamy towards dioecy thus depends on more components of the reproductive ecology than have been assumed.

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Acknowledgment

The author thanks the late Prof. Wilfried Morawetz for his support and kindness, and dedicates this paper to his memory. He further thanks Amots Dafni, Susanne Renner and Avi Shmida for their advice and discussion, Claudia Erbar, Peter Leins and Monika Langlotz for instruction, Martin Unterseher for crane time coordination, Peggy Seltmann for assistance searching literature, and the Minerva foundation for financial support.

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    Ophir Tal

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Tal, O. Acer pseudoplatanus (Sapindaceae): Heterodichogamy and thrips pollination. Plant Syst Evol 278, 211–221 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-008-0141-9

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