Inbreeding depression in self-incompatible and self-compatible populations of Leavenworthia alabamica

J W Busch

doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800584

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Inbreeding depression in self-incompatible and self-compatible populations of Leavenworthia alabamica

Journal article

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Inbreeding depression in self-incompatible and self-compatible populations of Leavenworthia alabamica

J W Busch

Heredity, Vol.94(2), pp.159-165

02/2005

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.hdy.6800584

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/106811

PMID: 15562289

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Abstract

Brassicaceae - genetics

Brassicaceae - growth & development

Genetics, Population

Seeds - physiology

Flowers - anatomy & histology

Reproduction - physiology

Inbreeding

Brassicaceae - anatomy & histology

Flowers - physiology

Biomass

Alabama

Crosses, Genetic

Inbreeding depression is one of the leading factors preventing the evolution of self-fertilization in plants. In populations where self-fertilization evolves, theory suggests that natural selection against partially recessive deleterious alleles will reduce inbreeding depression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate this hypothesis by comparing the magnitude of inbreeding depression in self-incompatible and self-compatible populations of Leavenworthia alabamica. Within-population crosses were conducted to compare the quantity and quality of offspring produced by outcrossing and self-fertilization. These progeny were grown in a common greenhouse and inbreeding depression was measured in germination, survival, biomass, transition rate to flowering, flower number, petal length, pollen grains/anther, pollen viability, and ovule number. In comparison to outcrossing, self-fertilization led to the production of fewer and smaller seeds within self-incompatible populations. Moreover, inbreeding depression was observed in eight of 11 offspring traits within self-incompatible populations of L. alabamica. In contrast, there was significant inbreeding depression only in flower number within self-compatible populations. The results of this study are consistent with the idea that self-fertilization selectively removes partially recessive deleterious alleles causing inbreeding depression in natural plant populations. However, in plant species such as L. alabamica where self-compatibility may evolve in small populations following long-distance dispersal, declines in inbreeding depression may also be facilitated by genetic drift.

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Title: Inbreeding depression in self-incompatible and self-compatible populations of Leavenworthia alabamica
Creators: J W Busch - Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E 3rd St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. jbusch@bio.indiana.edu
Publication Details: Heredity, Vol.94(2), pp.159-165
Academic Unit: Biological Sciences, School of
Publisher: England
Identifiers: 99900546802501842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article