Pollination is one of the most important processes in plant reproduction. It directly influences reproductive success and fitness and the genetic structure of the plant population. Methods exist to infer the pattern and distance of pollen dispersal, but direct observation of the movements of individual pollen grains during pollination is not feasible owing to their small size. Single-pollen genotyping is a novel technique for genotyping a single pollen grain. In this book, the principles, the experimental protocol, and several applications of this method in studies of plant ecology, reproductive biology, and evolutionary genetics have been described. More specifically, the information is useful for the analysis of linkage disequilibrium, intraspecific genetic variation, chromosome mapping, and the origins of polyploidy. It is also essential for achieving sustainable and optimal crop yield and is vital to agriculture and forestry. Written by pioneer researchers, the book provides novel research approaches that are proving useful in a growing number of fields. This volume is intended to encourage new and continued applications of single-pollen genotypingamongmany disciplines in the future.
Ecological Research Monographs Series Editor: Yoh Iwasa
For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/8852
Yuji Isagi Yoshihisa Suyama ●
Editors
Single-Pollen Genotyping
Editors Yuji Isagi, Ph.D. Professor Graduate School of Agriculture Kyoto University Kitashirakawa Oiwakecho, Sakyo Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
[email protected]
Yoshihisa Suyama, Ph.D. Associate Professor Graduate School of Agricultural Science Tohoku University Naruko-onsen, Osaki Miyagi 989-6711, Japan
[email protected]
ISSN 2191-0707 e-ISSN 2191-0715 ISBN 978-4-431-53900-1 e-ISBN 978-4-431-53901-8 DOI 10.1007/978-4-431-53901-8 Springer Tokyo Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2010936444 © Springer 2011 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and storage in data banks. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protec-tive laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. Cover Front cover: A beetle on a composite flower of Erigeron annuus Back cover: Left: Microscopic view of a single pollen grain crushed with a sterile plastic pipette tip on the internal wall of a PCR reaction tube Middle: A thrip on a Spiranthes sinensis flower Right: Microscopic view of a crushed single pollen grain Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Preface
Pollination is one of the most critical steps influencing the reproductive success of angiosperms and gymnosperms. Determination of the amount of pollen and the pattern and process of pollen dispersal during plant reproduction will contribute to our understanding of the ecology and evolution of gymnosperms and angiosperms. This information is also essential to achieve sustainable and optimal crop yield and is important in agriculture and forestry. The haploid nature of pollen DNA can be utilized in evolutionary genetic studies and genomic analyses. However, direct observation of the move