Rich Nguyen
Project Description
"Pollen Transfer and Reception in the Aquatic Plant Species Ruppia maritima"
Ruppia maritima is an aquatic angiosperm found in alkaline lakes and coastal areas around the world. Ruppia is a water-pollinated (hydrophilous) species. In all flowering plants, pollen develops in the anther. Anthers dehisce, releasing pollen, which is transferred to receptive stigmas. In Ruppia, pollen grains float on the surface of the water in rafts until they reach nearby stigmas. Each pollen grain then germinates and produces a pollen tube, which grows through the carpel to reach the egg. Little is known about how the transition to water pollination has affected pollen reception and pollen tube growth. The goal of this study was to characterize the developmental events surrounding pollen reception in Ruppia. Using field collections and experimental-pollinations, timing of stigma receptivity, anther dehiscence and pollen reception were documented, as was pollen load size. The potential for self-pollination was also investigated. Investigating the reproductive biology of Ruppia will provide crucial information regarding the effect of the transition to hydrophily on reproductive traits.
Ruppia maritima is an aquatic angiosperm found in alkaline lakes and coastal areas around the world. Ruppia is a water-pollinated (hydrophilous) species. In all flowering plants, pollen develops in the anther. Anthers dehisce, releasing pollen, which is transferred to receptive stigmas. In Ruppia, pollen grains float on the surface of the water in rafts until they reach nearby stigmas. Each pollen grain then germinates and produces a pollen tube, which grows through the carpel to reach the egg. Little is known about how the transition to water pollination has affected pollen reception and pollen tube growth. The goal of this study was to characterize the developmental events surrounding pollen reception in Ruppia. Using field collections and experimental-pollinations, timing of stigma receptivity, anther dehiscence and pollen reception were documented, as was pollen load size. The potential for self-pollination was also investigated. Investigating the reproductive biology of Ruppia will provide crucial information regarding the effect of the transition to hydrophily on reproductive traits.
Presentations
2017
Creighton Biology Department Research Colloquium
2018
National Conference on Undergraduate Research
Nebraska Academy of Sciences
Creighton Biology Department Research Colloquium
Creighton Biology Department Research Colloquium
2018
National Conference on Undergraduate Research
Nebraska Academy of Sciences
Creighton Biology Department Research Colloquium
Publications
Taylor, M.L. *B.L. Giffei, *C.L. Dang, *A.E. Wilden, *K. M. Altrichter, *E.C. Baker, *R. Nguyen, and *D.S Oki. Reproductive ecology and postpollination development in the hydrophilous monocot Ruppia maritima. American Journal of Botany 107: 689–699