Biologists discover new plant reproduction behaviour

Biologists linked to the University of Stirling have discovered a novel mechanism used by plants to self-reproduce in the absence of pollinators.

The phenomenon – previously unknown to the scientific community – promotes self-pollination and fertilisation in plants through the rubbing of anthers, the male reproductive organ of a flower that contains pollen. It allows plants to reproduce in the absence of pollinators, such as bees.

Movements in plants are rare and this is the first observation of this particular trait, which scientists believe could be important for reproduction in the future, given the worldwide decline in pollinators.

Dr Mohamed Abdelaziz launched the study at Stirling, while supported by an Impact Research Fellowship, before completing the work at the University of Granada.

He said: “This research has identified a new mechanism, anther rubbing, which promotes self-reproduction in plants. It consists of coordinated, repeated movements of the anthers over the stigma, part of the flower’s female reproductive system, for a number of hours – and ultimately results in the self-pollination of the flower.

“People tend to think of plants as being static organisms and, in reality, movements in plants are quite rare. However, our novel and unique discovery demonstrates that such movements do exist – and do have an important function in their biology, in this case reproduction.”