Pollination in Castilleja sessiliflora 2019
Lab

Genetics, Reproductive Biology, Plant Breeding

We know very little about pollination in Downy Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja sessiliflora). So over the spring, we conducted pollinator observations to determine who was visiting these flowers. After the observations were complete, we collected stigma from a number of flowers known to be visited by different pollinators. We are proposing to use fluorescent microscopy to measure the number of pollen grains deposited on these stigmas to measure pollinator efficiency. Also, as this species is thought to be self-incompatible we expect pollen from the same plant to not germinate, so we expect to be able to compare the number of self versus outside pollen deposited on each flower. This information will go a long way to help us understand pollination in this group.  

Intern(s)