Abstract Detail



Population Genetics/Genomics

Cisternas, Anita [1], Jogesh, Tania [2], Skogen, Krissa [3], Fant, Jeremie [4].

Evolution of selfing syndrome and its influence on genetic diversity and inbreeding: A range-wide study in Oenothera primiveris (Onagraceae).

Among hermaphroditic flowering plants, selfing is a common mating strategy, despite the potential negative effects of inbreeding depression. To cope with the negative effects of selfing, plants have evolved a diverse range of breeding systems to promote outcrossing such as self-incompatibility. The breakdown of self-incompatibility towards a self-compatible breeding system can lead to an increase in the amount of selfing within a population. Increased selfing is commonly associated with highly reduced morphological features, lower attractiveness to pollinators (also known as selfing syndrome), and reduced genetic diversity.
In this study, we tested the consequences that changes in the breeding system can have on floral traits and on genetics patterns across populations of Oenothera primiveris. This species exhibits population-level variation in the breeding system and in floral traits, where populations on the west side of distribution have large flowers compared to populations on the east. To test the role that changes in the breeding system and floral traits have on the evolution of selfing syndrome we evaluated floral traits in the field, under growth-chamber conditions and population genetic parameters using RADseq. 
Our results indicate that the evolution of the selfing syndrome in O. primiveris is accompanied by changes in the breeding system, reduction of floral traits (flower diameter, herkogamy, and scent production), and reduced genetic diversity with increase inbreeding. Overall our results indicate that some populations have evolved reduced floral traits to facilitate autogamous pollination while others have gone through changes in the breeding system but not necessarily on floral traits. The observed variation on the distribution highlights the importance of population-wide studies to understand the variation on the evolution of a selfing syndrome within a species.


1 - Northwestern University, Plant Biology and Conservation, 2205 Tech drice, Evanston, IL, 60208
2 - Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
3 - 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, 60022, United States
4 - Chicago Botanic Garden, Plant Biology and Conservation, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe , IL, 60022

Keywords:
selfing syndrome
Inbreeding
RADSeq
Breeding System.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: POPGEN1, Population Genetics/Genomics I
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Tuesday, July 28th, 2020
Time: 3:45 PM
Number: POPGEN1004
Abstract ID:868
Candidate for Awards:Margaret Menzel Award


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