Tayier Gulinige, Hasimu Dilixiati, Aishan Tayierjiang, Yimingniyazi Amanula
Xinjiang Key Laboratory for Ecological Adaptation and Evolution of Extreme Environment Biology, College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China.
Front Plant Sci. 2024 May 3;15:1363496. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1363496. eCollection 2024.
Ker-Gawl. (Russian iris) is a perennial, clonal, herbaceous plant that is spread across the degraded mountain grasslands in northern Xinjiang. In this study, to explore the breeding system and the impact of slope orientation on the flowering phenology, pollination characteristics, and other aspects of , we used a combination of field observations and controlled experiments to compare the population density, flowering phenology, floral characteristics, breeding system, and pollinator type and behavior of plants on different slope orientations. Vegetation coverage on the north (N), southwest (SW), and southeast (SE) slopes was 90%, 67%, and 53%, respectively. Differences in plant height and diameter were observed between the SE slope and the N and SW slopes, whereas the N and SW slopes were similar in these respects. The SE slope exhibited the earliest initial flowering time, followed by the SW and N slopes. The diameter of the corolla, distance between the stigma and anther, length of the anther and ovary, number of pollen grains, and number of ovules on the N slope were smaller than those on the SE and SW slopes, whereas those of the SE and SW slopes were similar. Artificial pollination experiments showed that neither bagging nor unbagging resulted in seed formation after emasculation for all slope orientations. The pollinating insects of included sp., , sp., and sp.; the types and numbers of pollinating insects differed among slopes. In summary, on SE and SW slopes with high temperatures and sufficient sunlight, this species attracted pollinators and provided them with more opportunities to visit and pollinate by flowering early, with large numbers of blooms, and a longer flowering period and lifespan, ensuring successful reproduction. Under unfavorable conditions, such as insufficient pollinators and limited activity caused by the more stressful environmental conditions of the N slope (including low temperature and insufficient light), this species ensures a certain seed yield by increasing its self-compatibility.
准噶尔鸢尾是一种多年生、克隆草本植物，分布于新疆北部退化的山地草原。在本研究中，为了探究其繁育系统以及坡向对开花物候、授粉特性等方面的影响，我们采用实地观察和控制实验相结合的方法，比较不同坡向植株的种群密度、开花物候、花部特征、繁育系统以及传粉者类型和行为。北坡（N）、西南坡（SW）和东南坡（SE）的植被覆盖度分别为90%、67%和53%。东南坡与北坡和西南坡在株高和茎粗上存在差异，而北坡和西南坡在这些方面相似。东南坡的始花时间最早，其次是西南坡和北坡。北坡的花冠直径、柱头与花药间距、花药和子房长度、花粉粒数量以及胚珠数量均小于东南坡和西南坡，而东南坡和西南坡的这些指标相似。人工授粉实验表明，对所有坡向的植株去雄后，套袋和不套袋处理均未产生种子。准噶尔鸢尾的传粉昆虫包括[具体昆虫种类1]、[具体昆虫种类2]、[具体昆虫种类3]和[具体昆虫种类4]；不同坡向的传粉昆虫类型和数量有所不同。综上所述，在温度较高且阳光充足的东南坡和西南坡，该物种通过早开花、大量开花、较长的花期和寿命吸引传粉者，为它们提供更多访花和授粉机会，确保繁殖成功。在不利条件下，如北坡传粉者不足以及由于环境压力较大（包括低温和光照不足）导致的活动受限，该物种通过提高自交亲和性确保一定的种子产量。
