花色多样性与变异的研究进展

Research Progress on Diversity and Variation in Flower Color

花的颜色不仅在不同物种之间有着丰富的多样性,同一物种的不同居群或个体之间也有着花色的多态性,同一花中的不同器官甚至同一类型的器官也有颜色差异。了解花色多样性的形成和维持机制,有助于揭示花的演化。经典的观点认为,花色是植物提供给传粉者的视觉信号,能促进传粉和提高觅食效率。在分析花色多样性的基础上,本文介绍了4种不同的研究方法,并论述了当前解释花色多样性的3个主要假说。提出今后的研究有必要结合系统发育的分析方法,综合考虑传粉者、植食动物、物理环境等多个因子的选择作用,才能深入理解花色的多样性与演化。

Flower color is extremely diverse not only among flowering plants, but also in different populations and/or individuals of the same species （i.e., flower color polymorphism）. There is also color variation within the same or different floral structures. Understanding the formation and maintenance of the diversity of flower color provides a cue to unveil the evolution of flowers. A long standing view considers flower color functioning as visual signal for pollinators, which may facilitate pollen transfer and increase foraging efficiency. Here we introduce four aspects of flower color diversity at interspecific and intraspecific levels, four different methodologies of studying color variation, discuss three hypotheses that explain the color variation. Future studies combining phylogenetic analysis and involving multiple factors including pollinators, herbivores and environments will be much helpful for a better understanding the diversity and evolution of flower color.