Breeding system of the subantarctic plant species Pringlea antiscorbutica R. Br. And search for potential insect pollinators in the Kerguelen Islands

• Published in: Polar Biology
• Main Authors: Schermann-Legionnet, Agnès, Hennion, Françoise, Vernon, Philippe, Atlan, Anne
• Other Authors: Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution Rennes (ECOBIO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Rennes (OSUR)-Institut Ecologie et Environnement (INEE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES), Institut Polaire - CNRS
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2007
• Subjects: Pringlea antiscorbutica; Subantarctic islands; Breeding system; Pollinators; [SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces; environment; [SDV.BDLR.RA]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Reproductive Biology/Asexual reproduction; [SDV.BA.ZI]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology/Invertebrate Zoology; Kerguelen; Kerguelen Islands; Indian; Polar Biology
• Online Access: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00164573; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0275-1

International audience The reproductive biology of Pringlea antiscorbutica R. Br. (Brassicaceae), an endemic species from the southern Indian Ocean islands, is investigated here. Controlled crosses were performed between plants grown in a common garden on the Kerguelen Islands. Searching for potential insect pollinators, we investigated the flying ability of all insects known from the Kerguelen Islands. We showed evidence for self-compatibility, low pollen limitation in the absence of a biotic pollen vector and slight selfing depression in P. antiscorbutica. The insects present on the islands are mostly wingless and are not likely to be efficient pollinators of this species. Since P. antiscorbutica shows morphological adaptations to insect pollination despite the absence of pollinators in its present range, we conclude that this species recently evolved from insect pollination to wind and/or autonomous pollination.