Studies On Reproductive Resource Allocation Of Zingiber Zerumbet(zingiberaceae)

Zingiber zerumbet is important ornamental flowers of Zingiberaceae, its cone inflorescences have peculiar shapes, with high ornamental value. However, it is rarely applicated in landscape and gardening. At present, the study on its biological characteristics is poor, especially on reproductive ecology characteristics. In order to clarify Z. zerumbet reproductive ecology strategy, to provide important theoretical reference in introduction and domestication、reproductive conservation and landscape application, etc., plant size, flower size and biomass, nectar volume and sugar content, pollen grain and ovule numbers per flower were examined. The main results are as follows:(1) Studied on plant size 、 flower size and biomass showed that: Morphological differentiation was found within and among populations of Z. zerumbet, the degree of differentiation was not exactly the same between populations, and the morphological differentiation among populations was not related to geographical distance; The biomass per flower was different in different location of inflorescence, top flower’s was smaller than middle and basal flower’s, top flower was partial male allocation, basal flower partial female allocation; There was a certain correlation between flower biomass and size and a significant positive correlation between plant main parts size and height.(2) The detection results of nectar and sugar content indicated that: Both nectar volume and sugar content per flower in different locations of inflorescence were base >middle > top, and the difference was significant; The sugar concentration was also base >middle > top, but the difference between middle and base was not significant, and both were significant with top.(3) Pollen grain and ovule numbers were examined. Both pollen grain and ovule numbers per flower in different location of inflorescence were base > middle > top, there was a significant difference between base and top; Pollen-ovule ratios(P/O) was base <middle < top, base and top was significant difference, which indicated top flowers were partial male and base flowers were partial female; Correlation analysis showed that pollen grain and ovule numbers per flower were significant positive correlation(P<0.001).(4) Ovule numbers per ventricle of ovary were counted and calculated. Three species of Zingiber have formed a fixed proportion rosources allocation model to per ventricle of ovary. The ovule numbers per ventricle and its proportion of ovule numbers per flower in the left and right ventricles were not significant difference, both were significant difference with middle ventricle, the allocation model were not related to the location of flower in theinflorescence and the conditions of populations, etc., the author generalized the model to the structure-resource effect of ovary.In summary, reproduction resources allocation strategy were different among populations and locations of inflorescence, size and biomass, nectar volume and sugar content, pollen grain and ovule numbers of per flower in different locations of inflorescence all showed that base > middle > top; Both the ovule numbers per ventricle of ovary and its proportion of ovule numbers per flower were left ventricle = right ventricle > middle ventricle, and the allocation proportion of ovule per ventricle was stable.