Abstract:

Phellodendron amurense Rupr. is strictly considered as a kind of dioecious plants. However, for the first time, the authors discovered monoecious P.amurense existing in the natural world. Aiming to study the sexual reproduction ability of monoecious plants, the authors used monoecious plants as experimental objects, and focused on researching both the sexual organs morphology and reproduction in contrast to female and male plants. A two-year study on over 5000 flowers found: (1) monoecious plants were not different from male and female plants in the morphology and development of pollen and stigmas, with a pollen germination rate over 23%, as high as that of male plants on the whole; (2) in term of the fruiting rate, female plants pollinated by monoecious plants pollen was 86.69%, the pistillate flower of monoecious plants pollinated by male plant pollen was 91.30%, the naturally pollinated ones was 95.69%, and the self-pollinated ones was 88.01%. Monoecious plants, both male and female, reproduced normally, and were selfed successfully. This study provides a new direction for research on sexual differentiation of P.amurense and a new way for biological protection.

Key words: Phellodendron amurense Rupr., monoecism, sexual reproduction, artificial pollination, sex expression, medicinal plants