Pollination, mating systems and self-incompatibility in some species of the genus Potamogeton L.

Modes of pollination, the morphological and functional adaptations for selfing and outcrossing, the mechanism of the opening of thecae in water medium and self-incompatibility were studied in 12 species of Potamogeton. Species of the genus have different morphological and functional adaptations for anemophily, anemoephydrophily, ephydrophily and hyphydrophily via hydroautogamy. Pollination and mating systems in different species are adaptive, variable and complicated processes. Seed production in species with submerged flowers is achieved in two ways. In Potamogeton obtusifolius (the subgenus Potamogeton) by agamospermy (gametophytic apomixis, diplospory of Taraxacum type). In hyphydrophilous P. filiformis (the subgenus Coleogeton) air bubbles bring about dehiscence of anthers and result in autogamy. Self-incompatibility present in some species is probably of the gametophytic type.