B. Johansen et R. Vonbothmer, POLLEN SIZE IN HORDEUM L - CORRELATION BETWEEN SIZE, PLOIDY LEVEL, AND BREEDING SYSTEM, Sexual plant reproduction, 7(5), 1994, pp. 259-263
The size of pollen in the genus Hordeum (Poaceae) is correlated with p
loidy level and breeding system. Generally, the pollen size increases
with the ploidy level, and outbreeding species possess significantly l
arger pollen than inbreeders. In H. roshevitzii (2x), H. pusilplum (2x
), H. murinum subsp. murinum (4x), and H. parodii (6x) pollen, heterom
orphisms occur between the central and the lateral florets of the trip
let. In all four taxa, pollen from florets in which the anthers are ex
serted is larger than pollen from florets where the anthers remain ins
ide the floret. The biological consequences of heteromorphic pollen ar
e discussed, and a model for the evolution of breeding strategies in H
ordeum is suggested.