Early inbreeding depression and pollen competition in Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull.
(1999) Annals of Botany — Vol. 83, n° 6, p. 697-704 (1999)
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- We investigated whether partial self-sterility in Calluna vulgaris results from abortion of selfed offspring owing to inbreeding depression or a late-acting self-incompatibility mechanism, and whether self-pollen interferes with normal functioning of cross-pollen. Self-pollination resulted in 75% less seed set than cross-pollination. Self-pollen tubes reached ovaries and penetrated ovules as often as those of cross-pollen. Following self-pollination, examination of the size of undeveloped seeds showed that at least 70% resulted from ovule fertilization and arrest of development occurred at various stages. All self-pollinated plants produced seeds and self-fertility varied among plants. These results indicate that the reduced seed set observed in self-pollination is more likely the result of inbreeding depression rather than a late-acting self-incompatibility system. The fecundity component of inbreeding depression was high (0.762). Seed set was reduced by an average of 40% when self-pollen was mixed with cross-pollen, compared to pure cross-pollination. Using genetic markers, we found about 20% of seeds resulted from self-pollination in mixed pollinated fruits. C. vulgaris is likely to experience self-pollination in nature and our data suggest this will reduce the number of ovules that might otherwise mature after cross-pollination. (C) 1999 Annals of Botany Company.
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Mahy, G., & Jacquemart, A.-L. (1999). Early inbreeding depression and pollen competition in Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. Annals of Botany, 83(6), 697-704. https://doi.org/10.1006/anbo.1999.0874 (Original work published 1999)