How do buzz pollinated flowers form? : Effect of exogenous jasmonate treatment on anther opening

Buzz pollination, a type of pollination involving 20 000 plant species and half of all bee species, is closely associated with the evolution of anthers that open through small apical pores or slits. The developmental mechanism behind how these anthers evolved is still unclear. In this study we investigate if the plant hormone jasmonate, a well-known regulator of anther dehiscence, is the possible mechanism behind the transition from longitudinal split opening to opening through apical pores. I conducted an experiment where I applied different concentrations of jasmonate to flower buds at different developmental stages. My results showed no statistically significant difference between the untreated control group and the anthers treated with three different concentrations of jasmonate. I also found no effect of bud stage on anther pore opening. Hormone actions on flower development are complex and further work is required to establish if the lack of jasmonate effect reflects the method in which the treatment was applied or a different type of hormonal control of anther dehiscence in buzz pollinated flowers.