Pollination is a fundamental process in plant biology describing the transfer of pollen from the male to female parts of the plant. In out-crossing plant species this pollen transfer is difficult, often requiring the movement of pollen between plants sometimes across great distances. Plants have evolved a large array of different strategies to overcome these physical barriers using either abiotic or biotic mechanisms such as wind, rain or insects to mobilize pollen. Many of these pollination strategies are affected by external environmental conditions such as seasonal changes and fluctuations in ambient temperature. A second dilemma faced by out-crossing plants is how to limit self-pollination; very often this is achieved by offsetting the maturation timing of the male and female floral organs. Currently there is little information on how plants regulate the timing of floral organ maturation or on how plants perceive changes in the environment and what implications climate change may have on these precisely timed mechanisms or pollination strategies.

The Crop Floral Biology and Environments team aims to combine molecular techniques with detailed physiological measurements (including time-lapse photography) to investigate how climatic changes and extreme weather events affect plant and flower development with a special focus on flower physiology, flower health and pollinator visits. We follow flowers from bud opening to seed development to assess the impact of these weather conditions may have on plant reproduction and potentially crop yield.

Current Projects:

1. The effects of a changing environment and late-planting dates on maize plant development and yield in South Africa. (Funding: Maize Trust and DSI through GrainSA coordination)
2. Assessing the effect of planting date and environment on sunflower development, Sclerotinia head rot and yield. (Funding: Oil and Protein Seed Development Trust)
3. The impact of heat waves on floral organ development at the physiological and molecular level during anthesis in domesticated sunflower. (Funding: NRF - Thuthuka)