From Structure to Fitness: Linking Floral Anatomy, Reproductive Systems, and Evolutionary Outcomes

Floral structure represents one of the most remarkable sources of morphological diversity in angiosperms. Variations in organ number, symmetry, fusion, spatial arrangement, vascularization, and secretory specialization are not merely descriptive attributes; they directly influence pollen presentation, stigma receptivity, mating patterns, and ultimately reproductive success. Over the last decades, advances in floral developmental biology, comparative anatomy, and phylogenetic methods have substantially improved our understanding of how floral traits originate and diversify. However, the functional consequences of structural variation are still insufficiently integrated into broader ecological and evolutionary frameworks. Reproductive ecology has traditionally focused on pollination biology, mating systems, and fitness outcomes, often treating floral traits as operational units without fully addressing their anatomical and developmental underpinnings. Conversely, detailed anatomical studies frequently remain disconnected from explicit ecological hypotheses or measures of reproductive performance. This conceptual and methodological gap limits our capacity to understand how structural innovations translate into functional shifts and how these shifts shape evolutionary trajectories. Recent methodological advances, including high-resolution imaging, quantitative morphometrics, biomechanical analyses, phylogenetic comparative methods, and integrative approaches combining anatomy with field-based reproductive data, now allow a more mechanistic exploration of the link between structure and fitness. Bridging floral anatomy with reproductive systems and macroevolutionary patterns is therefore both timely and necessary to advance functional plant ecology.This Research Topic aims to address a central problem: the persistent disconnect between structural descriptions of flowers and quantitative assessments of reproductive function and evolutionary outcomes. We seek contributions that explicitly test how anatomical and morphological variation influences reproductive systems (e.g., self-compatibility, herkogamy, dichogamy, distyly), pollination efficiency, fertilization dynamics, and fitness components.To achieve this, we encourage integrative studies that combine anatomical data with experimental ecology, reproductive biology, phylogenetic analyses, or modeling approaches. Particular emphasis will be placed on research that: (i) formulates clear functional hypotheses about floral traits; (ii) quantifies reproductive consequences at individual or population levels; and/or (iii) situates structural variation within a comparative or evolutionary framework. Recent advances in imaging techniques, 3D reconstruction, micromorphology, and evolutionary modeling provide powerful tools to move beyond descriptive morphology toward mechanistic explanations. By integrating these approaches, this Research Topic seeks to promote a more predictive understanding of how floral structure contributes to reproductive performance and diversification in plants.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Perspectives, and Hypothesis and Theory articles that explore the functional and evolutionary implications of floral structure. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:1. Anatomical determinants of mating systems and reproductive strategies2. Structural bases of pollination efficiency and pollen–pistil interactions3. Floral secretory tissues and their ecological function4. Morphological innovation and shifts in reproductive systems5. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses linking floral traits to diversification rates6. Biomechanics and functional morphology of floral organsSubmissions must move beyond purely descriptive accounts and explicitly address functional, ecological, or evolutionary implications. Studies integrating anatomical, ecological, and evolutionary data are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: Elisabeth Tölke, Diego Demarco, Ana Maria Gonzalez Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79092/from-structure-to-fitness-linking-floral-anatomy-reproductive-systems-and-evolutionary-outcomes