Abstract Detail

Polymorphism - from morphology to interactions

Gowda, Vinita [1], Saket, Shrotri [2].

Polymorphism: A review on types of polymorphism and trends in morphological polymorphic traits.

Polymorphism refers to the presence of multiple forms within the recognized taxonomic entity of a species. Since the concept of species in itself is debatable, the idea of when to delimit each morph in a highly polymorphic trait becomes a statistical problem. The most common method of recognizing pollymorphic traits is to extensively examine a trait or set of traits within a population and delimit them using gaps in the continous characters. This assumes that while there is continuum in morphology, this continuum may not extend in the physiology of the plant. We present results from a highly polymorphic ginger which is otherwise also known to be a family notoroious for its polymorphic morphological traits. We show that the polymorphism is not restricted to morphology and that physiological and ecological differences among the different morphs may also be important in identifying polymorphic morphs in a population. Our results show that our handicap in defining a species based on morphological characters has restricuted our understanding of how physiological features such as nectar and sexual compatibilities have not been extensively investigated in plants. However, these features may play an important role in population-level dynamics among morphs before a species stabilises to the most common and dominant morph which may ultimately define the specific-level morphological characters of a taxa.

1 - IISER Bhopal, Room 223, AB3, Dept. Of Biological Sciences,, IISER- Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri,, Bhopal, MP, 462066, India
2 - IISER Bhopal, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, 462066, India

Keywords:
polymorphism
Tropical Botany.

Presentation Type: Colloquium Presentations
Number: C2
Abstract ID:991
Candidate for Awards:None