Data from: Heatwaves exacerbate pollen limitation through reductions in pollen production and pollen vigour
Data files
Sep 13, 2024 version files 21.73 KB
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aopb_anthers.csv
10.31 KB
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aopb_seeds.csv
4.17 KB
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aopb_style.csv
4.96 KB
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README.md
2.29 KB
Abstract
Background and aims
Increasingly frequent heat waves threaten the reproduction of flowering plants; compromising the future persistence, adaptive capacity, and dispersal of wild plant populations, and also the yield of fruit-bearing crop plants. Heat damages development of sensitive floral organs and gametes, which inhibits pollen germination, pollen tube growth, and fertilization. However, the role of heat has not been integrated into the framework of pollen quantity and quality limitation and how heat influences the success of cross and self-pollination.
Methods
We exposed developing flowers to either control temperature (25C:20C) or extreme heat (35C:20C) over 72 hours. We then hand pollinated them with either crossed or self-derived pollen from the same temperature treatment to determine direct and interactive effects of simulated heatwaves on pollen tube growth and resulting seed set. We also collected anthers from virgin flowers to measure heat impacts pollen production.
Key results
Under cooler control temperatures pollen tube survival of self-derived pollen was approximately 27% lower than that of crossed pollen. Pollen tube survival in heat treated cross-pollinated and heat treated self-pollinated flowers were 71% and 77% lower than cross pollen used control temperatures. These differences in pollen tube survival rate between heat treated cross-pollinated and heat-treated self-pollinated flowers were insignificant. Furthermore, extreme heat reduced seed set by 87%, regardless of pollen origin and also reduced pollen production during flower development by approximately 20%.
Conclusions
Our results suggest flowers that develop during heatwaves are likely to experience exacerbated pollen quantity and quality limitation driven by changes in pollen production and pollen vigour. Heatwave induced pollen limitation will likely reduce crop yields in agricultural systems, and depress mating and reproduction in wild plant species, the latter of which may hinder the adaptive capacity of plants to a rapidly changing world.
README: Heatwaves exacerbate pollen limitation through reductions in pollen production and pollen vigour
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tmpg4f572
Description of the data and file structure
Provides all information associated with the data and analyses of the publication "Heatwaves exacerbate pollen limitation through reductions in pollen production and pollen vigour" published in AoB Plants
Files and variables
File: aopb_anthers.csv
Description: contains all data used for analysis of pollen production
Variables
- t_num: Treated cohort number plant was in for temperature treatment
- p_num: Number given to plant from temperature treat
- p_trt: Plant temperature treatment (Control or Heat; 25° Celsius or 35° Celsius)
- start_wgt: weight of vial before sampling 3ml (weight in grams)
- vial_wgt: weight of vial used when empty (weight in grams)
- final_wgt: weight after sampling 3ml (weight in grams)
- pollen_grains: average number of pollen grains across 3 samples (rounded to nearest integer)
- grains_per_flower: estimated number of pollen grains per flower based on weight of sample
File: aopb_style.csv
Description: contains all data used for analysis of pollen tube survival
Variables
- t_num: Treated cohort number plant was in for temperature treatment
- p_num: number given to plant from temperature treatment
- pol_tub: number of pollen tubes reaching the base of the style in sample
- pol_dep: number of pollen grains deposited on the stigma
- p_trt: Plant temperature treatment (Control or Heat; 25° Celsius or 35° Celsius)
- f_trt: Flower hand pollination treatment (x or s; Cross or Self)
File: aopb_seeds.csv
Description: contains all data used for analysis of seed set
Variables
- f_trt: Flower hand pollination treatment (x or s; Cross or Self)
- seed_n: Number of developed seeds in fruit
- abort_n: Number of aborted seeds (not used in study analysis)
- p_trt: Plant temperature treatment (Control or Heat; 25° Celsius or 35° Celsius)
- t_num: Treated cohort number plant was in for temperature treatment
- p_num: Number given to plant from temperature treat
Code/software
aobp_analyses_script.R: contains analyses used and comments on analysis.