Darwin´s Study of Hermaphroditic Plants Inspires Study of Heterostyly

Darwin himself stated in "Different Forms of Flowers" that the unique morphology of hetersylous plants, plants with two or more forms of flowers containing both male (anther) and female (stigma) parts encourages cross breeding. However, what Darwin did not know is that the chemical recognition of a flower´s own pollen prevents self-fertilization.

From buckwheat to cocaine, plants have independently evolved heterostyly over 40 times. However, the genes that control heterostyly are still unknown. Whith recent developments in molecular biology techniques, researchers today hope to prove that these plants inheret their heterostylic characteristics in a Mendelian manner.

Spencer Castro

American Journal of Botany (2010, May 4). 'Different forms of flowers' continues to fascinate: Darwin's influential study inspires research on breeding system called heterostyly. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 6, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/04/100429173003.htm