The Solution to the Struggle for Selection in Plants

          Research in New Phytologist has discovered the evolution of weaponry in plants. A research team from the Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologia Vegetal of Argentina, led by Dr. Andrea Concucci, studied Apocynaceae (a species of milkweed) found in tropical climates. The discovered that the Apocynaceae reproduces via pollinators and that competition between plants for pollinators creates confrontation. The plants hook their sacs of pollon grains to pollinators. Some pollinators are able to hook up multiple sacs. The team studied the milkweed genus Oxypetalum and observed horn-like structures on the pollon sacs, preventing the sacs to be hooked up with multiple sacs. Plants have developed weaponry to solve the struggle for selection.

Horn-like Structure on Oxypetalum

NOS THEMES: 

1. Living things reproduce: Milkweed reproduce by having their pollon distributed by pollinators.
2. Living things grow & develop, Living things adapt to change: Milkweed have developed horn-like structures on their pollon sacs to protect themselves in the struggle for selection.

LINK TO ARTICLE: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2014/03/20/first_evidence_of_plants_evolving_weaponry_to_compete_in_the_struggle_for_selection.html