Abstract
COROLLA-COLOUR polymorphisms occur in wild populations of many angiosperms, but little is known of the selective factors that maintain them. Valentine has suggested that yellow/white corolla-colour polymorphisms may be adaptively neutral1. I have observed extremely strong discrimination by some insect pollinators between the yellow and white corolla-colour forms of polymorphic wild radish. These observations, which are described below, indicate that corolla-colour differences are of adaptive importance in this and similar cases.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Valentine, D. H., Watsonia, 10, 385–390 (1975).
Sampson, D. R., Can. J. Genet. Cytol., 6, 434–445 (1964).
Levin, D. A., Am. Nat., 106, 57–70 (1972).
Mogford, D. J., Heredity, 33, 257–263 (1974).
Ilse, D., Z. vergl. Physiol., 8, 658–692 (1928).
Bennett, A. W., J. Linn. Soc. (Zool.), 17, 175–185 (1883).
Daumer, K., Z. vergl. Physiol., 38, 413–478 (1956).
Struwe, G., J. comp. Physiol., 79, 191–196, 197–201 (1972).
Obara, Y., Z. vergl. Physiol., 69, 99–116 (1970).
Bishop, L. G., and Chung, D. W., J. Insect Physiol., 18, 1501–1508 (1972).
Ilse, D., Nature, 163, 255–256 (1949).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
KAY, Q. Preferential pollination of yellow-flowered morphs of Raphanus raphanistrum by Pieris and Eristalis spp.. Nature 261, 230–232 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/261230a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/261230a0
This article is cited by
-
Spider lures exploit insect preferences for floral colour and symmetry
Evolutionary Ecology (2020)
-
Spontaneous colour preferences and colour learning in the fruit-feeding butterfly, Mycalesis mineus
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2019)
-
Innate colour preferences of the Australian native stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria Sm.
Journal of Comparative Physiology A (2016)
-
Visual ecology of flies with particular reference to colour vision and colour preferences
Journal of Comparative Physiology A (2014)
-
10.1007/BF00194758
CrossRef Listing of Deleted DOIs (2011)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.