Is self‐fertilization an evolutionary dead end? Revisiting an old hypothesis with genetic theories and a macroevolutionary approach

Takebayashi, Naoki; Morrell, Peter L.

doi:10.2307/3558325

Cited by 331 publications

(349 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…This potential may not be realized when obligate selfing evolves for, as Darwin (1877, p. 292) suspected, selfing lineages are relatively ephemeral, perhaps because of increased extinction rates associated with reduced genetic diversity and accumulation of deleterious mutations (Takebayashi & Morrell 2001;Bartkowska & Johnston 2009). Furthermore, obligate selfing is an absorbing state from which outcrossing forms cannot evolve because no outcrossing benefit can counteract the twofold transmission advantage of selfed offspring (Takebayashi & Morrell 2001). Thus, the evolution of obligate selfing may be an expedient solution to prevailing PL that has a limited evolutionary future.…”

Section: Pollen Limitation and Plant Diversificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floral adaptation and diversification under pollen limitation

Harder

Aizen

2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

145

151

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Pollen limitation (PL) of seed production creates unique conditions for reproductive adaptation by angiosperms, in part because, unlike under ovule or resource limitation, floral interactions with pollen vectors can contribute to variation in female success. Although the ecological and conservation consequences of PL have received considerable attention in recent times, its evolutionary implications are poorly appreciated. To identify general influences of PL on reproductive adaptation compared with those under other seed-production limits and their implications for evolution in altered environments, we derive a model that incorporates pollination and postpollination aspects of PL. Because PL always favours increased ovule fertilization, even when population dynamics are not seed limited, it should pervasively influence selection on reproductive traits. Significantly, under PL the intensity of inbreeding does not determine whether outcrossing or autonomous selfing can evolve, although it can affect which response is most likely. Because the causes of PL are multifaceted in both natural and anthropogenically altered environments, the possible outcrossing solutions are diverse and context dependent, which may contribute to the extensive variety of angiosperm reproductive characteristics. Finally, the increased adaptive options available under PL may be responsible for positive global associations between it and angiosperm diversity.

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Section: Pollen Limitation and Plant Diversificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floral adaptation and diversification under pollen limitation

Harder

Aizen

2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

145

151

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“…Given this, methods that consider jointly the biases in diversification and character change are clearly needed. Although some empirical studies consider both biases together (e.g., Takebayashi and Morrell 2001), theoretical studies developing methods have focused on either diversification, or character change, but not both.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Confounding Asymmetries in Evolutionary Diversification and Character Change

2006

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Abstract. Studies of character evolution often assume that a phylogeny's shape is determined independently of the characters, which then evolve as mere passengers along the tree's branches. However, if the characters help shape the tree, but this is not considered, biased inferences can result. Simulations of asymmetrical speciation (i.e., one character state conferring a higher rate of speciation than another) result in data that are interpreted to show a higher rate of change toward the diversification-enhancing state, even though the rates to and from this state were in fact equal. Conversely, simulations of asymmetrical character change yield data that could be misinterpreted as showing asymmetrical rates of speciation. Studies of biased diversification and biased character change need to be unified by joint models and estimation methods, although how successfully the two processes can be teased apart remains to be seen.

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“…All of these factors may be operating singly or in concert within self-fertilizing populations to reduce the efficacy of purifying selection and thereby increase the local drift load. If this occurs, then the maintenance of outcrossing may in part be explained by the extinction of self-fertilizing lineages Lynch et al 1995b;Takebayashi and Morrell 2001).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterosis in an Isolated, Effectively Small, and Self-Fertilizing Population of the Flowering Plant Leavenworthia Alabamica

Busch

2006

Evolution

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Abstract. Mildly deleterious mutations are thought to play a major role in the extinction of natural populations, especially those that are small, isolated, or inbred. Self-fertilization should reduce the effective size of populations and simultaneously reduce migration between populations. A history of self-fertilization should therefore cause a population to harbor a substantial ''local drift load'' caused by the fixation of mildly deleterious mutations. This hypothesis was tested in Leavenworthia alabamica, which contains large, self-incompatible populations and smaller self-compatible populations with adaptations for self-fertilization. The fitness of offspring from within-and between-population crosses was compared to quantify heterosis caused by the masking of deleterious alleles in the heterozygous state. Little heterosis was observed in crosses between five large, self-incompatible populations and two of the three small, self-fertilizing populations of L. alabamica. However, the most geographically isolated and genetically divergent self-fertilizing population (Tuscumbia) exhibited a 110.2% increase in germination and a 73.6% increase in fitness, which is consistent with a sizeable local drift load. The finding of substantial heterosis for fitness supports the idea that small effective size, reproductive isolation, and self-fertilization can make populations particularly vulnerable to mutation accumulation.

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Is self‐fertilization an evolutionary dead end? Revisiting an old hypothesis with genetic theories and a macroevolutionary approach

Cited by 331 publications

References 75 publications

Floral adaptation and diversification under pollen limitation

Floral adaptation and diversification under pollen limitation

Confounding Asymmetries in Evolutionary Diversification and Character Change

Heterosis in an Isolated, Effectively Small, and Self-Fertilizing Population of the Flowering Plant Leavenworthia Alabamica

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