The relative importance of reproductive assurance and automatic selection as hypotheses for the evolution of self-fertilization

Jeremiah W Busch; Lynda F Delph

doi:10.1093/aob/mcr219

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The relative importance of reproductive assurance and automatic selection as hypotheses for the evolution of self-fertilization

Journal article

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The relative importance of reproductive assurance and automatic selection as hypotheses for the evolution of self-fertilization

Jeremiah W Busch and Lynda F Delph

Annals of botany, Vol.109(3), pp.553-562

02/2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcr219

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/104217

PMCID: PMC3278291

PMID: 21937484

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Abstract

Hermaphroditic Organisms - physiology

Plant Development

Genes, Plant

Selection, Genetic

Ecology

Pollination

Biological Evolution

Reproduction

Plants - genetics

Seeds - physiology

Fertility

Models, Biological

Self-Fertilization

Plant Physiological Phenomena

Pollen - physiology

The field of plant mating-system evolution has long been interested in understanding why selfing evolves from outcrossing. Many possible mechanisms drive this evolutionary trend, but most research has focused upon the transmission advantage of selfing and its ability to provide reproductive assurance when cross-pollination is uncertain. We discuss the shared conceptual framework of these ideas and their empirical support that is emerging from tests of their predictions over the last 25 years. These two hypotheses are derived from the same strategic framework. The transmission advantage hypothesis involves purely gene-level selection, with reproductive assurance involving an added component of individual-level selection. Support for both of these ideas has been garnered from population-genetic tests of their predictions. Studies in natural populations often show that selfing increases seed production, but it is not clear if this benefit is sufficient to favour the evolution of selfing, and the ecological agents limiting outcross pollen are often not identified. Pollen discounting appears to be highly variable and important in systems where selfing involves multiple floral adaptations, yet seed discounting has rarely been investigated. Although reproductive assurance appears likely as a leading factor facilitating the evolution of selfing, studies must account for both seed and pollen discounting to adequately test this hypothesis. The transmission advantage and reproductive assurance ideas describe components of gene transmission that favour selfing. Future work should move beyond their dichotomous presentation and focus upon understanding whether selection through pollen, seed or both explains the spread of selfing-rate modifiers in plant populations.

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Title: The relative importance of reproductive assurance and automatic selection as hypotheses for the evolution of self-fertilization
Creators: Jeremiah W Busch - School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA. jwbusch@wsu.edu
Lynda F Delph
Publication Details: Annals of botany, Vol.109(3), pp.553-562
Academic Unit: Biological Sciences, School of
Publisher: England
Identifiers: 99900546699001842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article