scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN MIXED-MATING PLANTS PROVIDES EVIDENCE FOR SELECTIVE INTERFERENCE AND STABLE MIXED MATING

Evolution ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 65 (12) ◽  
pp. 3339-3359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice A. Winn ◽  
Elizabeth Elle ◽  
Susan Kalisz ◽  
Pierre-Olivier Cheptou ◽  
Christopher G. Eckert ◽  
...  
1994 ◽  
Vol 346 (1317) ◽  
pp. 271-281 ◽  

On theoretical grounds, coevolutionary interactions with parasites can select for cross-fertilization, even when there is a twofold advantage gained by reproducing through uniparental means. The suspected advantage of cross-fertilization stems from the production of genetically rare offspring, which are expected to be more likely to escape infection by coevolving enemies. In the present study, we consider the effects that parasites have on parthenogenetic mutants in obligately sexual, dioecious populations. Computer simulations show that repeated mutation to parthenogenesis can lead to the accumulation of clones with different resistance genotypes, and that a moderately diverse set of clones could competitively exclude the ancestral sexual subpopulation. The simulations also show that, when there are reasonable rates of deleterious mutation, Muller’s ratchet combined with coevolutionary interactions with parasites can lead to the evolutionary stability of cross-fertilization. In addition, we consider the effects that parasites can have on the evolution of uniparental reproduction in cosexual populations. Strategy models show that parasites and inbreeding depression could interact to select for evolutionarily stable reproductive strategies that involve mixtures of selfed and outcrossed progeny.


Botany ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 405-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth H. Ansaldi ◽  
Jennifer J. Weber ◽  
Carol Goodwillie ◽  
Steven J. Franks

The maintenance of outcrossing in cleistogamous plants that produce both open, facultatively outcrossing chasmogamous (CH), and closed, obligate selfing cleistogamous (CL) flowers is puzzling because CL reproduction is thought to be more reliable and less costly. A possible explanation for the maintenance of CH flowers is the avoidance of inbreeding depression. However, inbreeding depression for cleistogamous species has rarely been quantified. In this study, we estimate levels of inbreeding depression in plants from three populations of Triodanis perfoliata (L.) Nieuwl., a dimorphic cleistogamous annual, under greenhouse conditions. Estimates of inbreeding depression at multiple life stages in all three populations were low and often not different from zero. Inbreeding depression at specific life stages varied, with two populations showing later-acting inbreeding depression, which is also found in other selfing species. In two of the study populations, selfed CL progeny outperformed selfed CH progeny, indicating a flower-type effect. The low levels of inbreeding depression and the superior fitness of CL compared with selfed CH flowers that we observed make the maintenance of CH flowers in this system surprising, and suggest that other advantages of outcrossing CH flowers are likely responsible for maintaining mixed mating in this species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Rod Griffin ◽  
Brad M Potts ◽  
René E Vaillancourt ◽  
J Charles Bell

Abstract Background and Aims Many plants exhibit a mixed mating system. Published models suggest that this might be an evolutionarily stable rather than a transitional state despite the presence of inbreeding depression, but there is little empirical evidence. Through field experimentation, we studied the role of inbreeding depression in eliminating inbred progeny from the reproductive cohort of the forest tree Eucalyptus regnans, and demonstrate a stable mixed primary mating system over two successive generations. Methods Two field experiments were conducted using seed from natural populations. We sowed open-pollinated seeds to simulate a natural regeneration event and determined isozyme genotypes of dominant and suppressed individuals over 10 years. We also planted a mixture of open-pollinated, outcross and selfed families with common maternal parentage; monitored survival of cross types over 29 years; and determined the percentage of outcrosses in open-pollinated seed from a sample of reproductively mature trees using microsatellite analysis. Key Results Both experiments demonstrated progressive competitive elimination of inbred plants. By 29 years, the reproductive cohort in the planted experiment consisted only of outcrosses which produced seed which averaged 66 % outcrosses, similar to the estimate for the parental natural population (74 %). Conclusions Selective elimination of inbred genotypes during the intense intra-specific competition characteristic of the pre-reproductive phase of the life cycle of E. regnans results in a fully outcrossed reproductive population, in which self-fertility is comparable with that of its parental generation. The mixed mating system may be viewed as an unavoidable consequence of the species’ reproductive ecology, which includes the demonstrated effects of inbreeding depression, rather than a strategy which is actively favoured by natural selection.


Botany ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Marques ◽  
David Draper ◽  
José María Iriondo

Small fragmented populations often exhibit reduced plant–pollinator interactions and scarce outcrossing opportunities. In this context, mixed-mating systems can be advantageous since selfing can provide reproductive assurance, but they may also carry relevant costs such as those involved in inbreeding depression. This study examines the advantages and costs of selfing in Narcissus serotinus L., a mixed-mating geophyte that currently occurs in several fragmented populations in Portugal, that resulted from the construction of the largest European dam. Observation of pollinators revealed that cross-pollination is less frequent in small than in large populations. Manual self-pollinations significantly increased fruit and seed set in small-size populations, also suggesting limited insect pollination. The existence of selfing may provide reproductive assurance in small-size populations of N. serotinus where outcrossing pollination is reduced. Although floral biology and experimental pollinations showed that N. serotinus is capable of autonomous selfing, four of the six fitness traits studied showed significant inbreeding depression in all populations. The high levels of inbreeding depression found in N. serotinus suggest that the initial reproductive assurance advantage of selfing may be counterbalanced by lower survival of the resulting individuals and a decrease in the evolutionary potential of the populations.


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