Possible tobacco progenitors share long-tongued hawkmoths as pollen vectors

摘要: The putative ancestors of the allopolyploid hybrid Nicotiana tabacum have distinct flower features, apparently suited either for hawkmoth or bat pollination. This suggests that progenitors were reproductively isolated by mechanical and ethological barriers. However, present data show in natural populations pollen vectors could be shared two possible progenitors. Pollen one male (N. otophora) short- long-tongued hawkmoths a nectar-feeding bat, while those female ancestor sylvestris) only hawkmoths. latter are then most likely responsible presumed spontaneous hybridization. These also suggest interspecific transfer occurred more direction.