Mating system variation and assortative mating of sympatric bromeliads (Pitcairnia spp.) endemic to neotropical inselbergs

Palma-Silva, Clarisse; Cozzolino, Salvatore; Paggi, Gecele Matos; Lexer, Christian; Wendt, Tânia

doi:10.3732/ajb.1400513

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Journal article

Mating system variation and assortative mating of sympatric bromeliads (Pitcairnia spp.) endemic to neotropical inselbergs

Palma-Silva, Clarisse Departamento de Ecologia, IB/UNESP, Rio Claro, Brazil - Instituto de Botânica, São Paulo, Brazil -
Cozzolino, Salvatore Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy - CNR Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, Firenze, Italy
Paggi, Gecele Matos Ciências Biológicas, CPAN/UFMS, Corumbá-MS, Brazil
Lexer, Christian Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland - Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Austria
Wendt, Tânia Departamento de Botânica, CCS/IB/UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

01.05.2015

Published in:

American Journal of Botany. - 2015, vol. 102, no. 5, p. 758–764

English Premise of the study: The mating system is an important component of the complex set of reproductive isolation barriers causing plant speciation. However, empirical evidence showing that the mating system may promote reproductive isolation in co-occurring species is limited. The mechanisms by which the mating system can act as a reproductive isolation barrier are also largely unknown. Methods: Here we studied progeny arrays genotyped with microsatellites and patterns of stigma–anther separation (herkogamy) to understand the role of mating system shifts in promoting reproductive isolation between two hybridizing taxa with porous genomes, Pitcairnia albiflos and P. staminea (Bromeliaceae). Key results: In P. staminea, we detected increased selfing and reduced herkogamy in one sympatric relative to two allopatric populations, consistent with mating system shifts in sympatry acting to maintain the species integrity of P. staminea when in contact with P. albiflos. Conclusions: Mating system variation is a result of several factors acting simultaneously in these populations. We report mating system shifts as one possible reproductive barrier between these species, acting in addition to numerous other prezygotic (i.e., flower phenology and pollination syndromes) and postzygotic barriers (Bateson–Dobzhansky–Muller genetic incompatibilities).

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Biologie

Language