Gossypium turneri
| Gossypium turneri | |
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| File:Gossypium Turneri.png | |
| Flower of Gossypium turneri showing the yellow petals and red staminal column. | |
| File:Gossypium turneri.png | |
| Bloom cluster of Gossypium turneri on a native shrub in coastal Sonora, Mexico. | |
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| Species: | G. turneri
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| Binomial name | |
| Gossypium turneri Fryxell, 1978
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Gossypium turneri is a wild cotton species in the genus Gossypium and the family Malvaceae, native to the coastal region of Sonora, Mexico. It grows in dry, lowland desert habitats and is classified as endangered under Mexican legislation. The species is microendemic, with a very restricted natural range composed of small and fragmented populations. The conservation status is critically endangered by the IUCN Red List and endangered under Mexican legislation.[1]
Morphology
Gossypium turneri was formally described by botanist Paul A. Fryxell in 1978.[2] It is a low shrub with small, thick leaves and yellow petals that form a corolla surrounding a red staminal column. The species produces a 3-locular, prominently glanded capsule. Research shows that populations exhibit phenotypic variation—including differences in morphology and growth form—likely due to microhabitat differences.[3]
Range and habitat
G. turneri occurs in the coastal region of Sonora, Mexico, growing in desert scrub habitats with sandy or rocky soils. Its distribution is microendemic and geographically restricted to a narrow distribution range, consisting of small and isolated populations. This makes G. turneri of interest to conservation research as it depends on specific ecological conditions to survive. Due to microhabitat differences, research suggests that even small, isolated populations are adapting to local conditions and exhibiting phenotypic variation, or varied morphological traits within the same species.[4]
Pollination
The flowers of G. turneri remain open for only one day and are visited by a variety of insects. During this brief time, a variety of insects visit the flowers. G. turneri is also capable of autonomous self-pollination, with mixed evidence for pollen limitation. The flowers exhibit herkogamy; curved styles that allow the stigma to come into contact with anthers. This enables the process of autonomous self-pollination. G. turneri produces a small number of seeds, indicated by low fruit set values and seed production per fruit in open-pollinated control flowers. These results suggest that the ability of G. turneri to self-pollinate provides reproductive assurance when pollinator visits are limited, allowing for persistence.[1] Low fruit set and low seed output suggest that pollen limitation may occur in natural populations.
Conservation
Threats to G. turneri include habitat destruction, tourism development, and buffelgrass invasion in the municipality of Guaymas. Consequently, G. turneri is classified as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List and endangered under Mexican legislation.[1] Because of its extremely limited range and fragmented populations, the species is considered at high risk of extinction.
Currently, there are no effective conservation plans in place for G.turneri, though it is in need of urgent conservation actions. Multiple genetic clusters of G.turneri must be kept to maintain evolutionary potential.[4]
As a microendemic species, its range is limited and therefore habitat protection is of high importance. Additionally, limiting the introduction and spread of invasive species such as buffelgrass is critical to conserving G. turneri. There is a proposal to collect seeds from the remaining populations. These can be utilized for germplasm banks. The maintenance of live plants in botanical gardens is also suggested to conserve this rare species. Seed banking and maintaining live plants in botanical gardens are proposed strategies to safeguard remaining genetic diversity.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Yescas-Romo, K.F.; Hayano-Kanashiro, C. (2024). "Pollination biology of Gossypium turneri: autonomous selfing and reproductive assurance". Ecological Research. doi:10.1111/1442-1984.12474.
- ↑ Fryxell, Paul A. (1978). "Gossypium turneri (Malvaceae), a new species from Mexico". Madroño. JSTOR 41424160.
- ↑ Yescas-Romo, K.F. (2025). "Patterns of phenotypic variation in Gossypium turneri: a wild cotton with a restricted distribution in Sonora, Mexico". Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 72 (6): 6737–6750. Bibcode:2025GRCEv..72.6737Y. doi:10.1007/s10722-025-02356-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Yescas-Romo, K.F. (2025). "Conservation genetics of the wild cotton Gossypium turneri". Conservation Genetics. doi:10.1007/s10592-025-01712-3.
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