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Research Article
Natural Hybridization between Rhododendron delavayi and R. cyanocarpum (Ericaceae), from Morphological, Molecular and Reproductive Evidence
Article first published online: 26 MAY 2010
DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.00970.x
© 2010 Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Additional Information
How to Cite
Ma, Y.-P., Zhang, C.-Q., Zhang, J.-L. and Yang, J.-B. (2010), Natural Hybridization between Rhododendron delavayi and R. cyanocarpum (Ericaceae), from Morphological, Molecular and Reproductive Evidence. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 52: 844–851. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.00970.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 24 AUG 2010
- Article first published online: 26 MAY 2010
- Received 8 March 2010 Accepted 4 May 2010
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Abstract
The natural hybridization that occurs between two sympatric species of Rhododendron subgenus Hymenanthes in Yunnan, China, was investigated. In field observations, it was noted that the putative hybrids between R. delavayi Franch. and R. cyanocarpum (Franch.) Franch. ex W.W. Sm. had intermediate morphologies. On the basis of morphology, chloroplast DNA (trnL-rpl32) and nuclear DNA (waxy), hybrids and parental species were identified. Hybridization occurred in both directions, but was asymmetrical, with R. delavayi as the major maternal parent. Reciprocal hand pollination treatments showed that either species, as pollen donor or pollen receiver, could produce fruits. It was noted that fruit set varied among treatments. The same pollinators (bumblebees) were shared in both parental species. From these results, we conclude that individuals with intermediate morphologies are indeed of hybrid origin from natural hybridization between R. cyanocarpum and R. delavayi. Furthermore, we presume the hybridization at the study site could have been initiated by habitat disturbance in the 1950s, and we may hence witness the early stages of hybrid swarm formation.