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Title: A COMPARATIVE LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NECTARIES AMONG SOYBEANS THAT OUTCROSS AND SOYBEANS THAT ARE PRIMARILY AUTOGAMOUS

Author
item HEALY, ROSARIA - ISU
item HORNER, HARRY - ISU
item Palmer, Reid

Submitted to: Iowa Academy of Science Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/2006
Publication Date: 4/21/2006
Citation: Healy, R.A., Horner, H.T., Palmer, R.G. 2006. A comparative look at the development of nectaries among soybeans that outcross and soybeans that are primarily autogamous [abstract]. Iowa Academy of Science Meeting. Paper No. 10.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We are engaged in an indepth comparative study of nectaries of soybeans attractive to pollinators to varying extents. The purpose was to identify characteristics that may contribute to the attractiveness of soybean flowers to potential pollinators. Our results will contribute information towards the development of a hybrid soybean. One obstacle to hybrid soybean development is that the cultivated soybean, Glycine max, is primarily autogamous, with a very low rate of outcrossing. Perennial soybeans have a high rate of outcrossing. In our study we included G. tomentella, a perennial, G. soja, the wild annual relative with a moderate rate of outcrossing, and three cultivars of G. max, another annual. The three cultivars include "Raiden", which is attractive to leaf cutter bees, and "Wells" and "Beeson", both of which are notably unattractive to pollinators. We found that the basic structure of nectaries among all taxa was the same. In semi-thin sections cut from plastic-embedded nectaries, two regions of cells could be identified on the basis of cytoplasmic staining with general stains. A region surrounding the phloem and companion cells differed from the epidermal cells and several cell layers below the epidermis. Cellular components in these two regions were quantified in all taxa over the course of development and differences were noted during development, and among taxa. All except for some guard cells in the nectaries of annual taxa collapsed after anthesis, while the outer nectary cells in the perennial appeared to remain functional until flower drop or fertilization.