Sexual selection in plants: pros and cons

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Plant Sciences

Background:

• Sexual selection is a key evolutionary mechanism in animals, driving the development of secondary sexual characters in males.
• Recent literature proposes sexual selection operates in plants, leading to divergent concepts: the Darwinian and a new plant-centered view.
• The Darwinian concept distinguishes primary and secondary sexual characters, with the latter being products of sexual selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the evidence for sexual selection in plants.
• To differentiate between the Darwinian concept of sexual selection and proposed plant-centered concepts.
• To determine if secondary sexual characters, as defined in the Darwinian concept, exist in plants.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis of existing publications on sexual selection in animals and plants.
• Examination of the definitions and criteria for primary and secondary sexual characters within evolutionary theory.
• Assessment of evidence presented for sexual selection in plants, specifically looking for the presence of secondary sexual characters.

Main Results:

• The Darwinian concept of sexual selection emphasizes secondary sexual characters, which are absent in plants.
• Proponents of plant sexual selection do not identify or establish the existence of secondary sexual characters in plants.
• Evidence cited for plant sexual selection primarily involves primary sexual characters or traits resulting from other selection modes.

Conclusions:

• The current evidence and conceptual framework do not support the operation of sexual selection in plants as defined by Darwin.
• A distinction must be maintained between sexual selection and other forms of natural selection acting on reproductive traits in plants.
• Further research is needed to clarify the evolutionary dynamics of plant reproduction and potentially redefine sexual selection in a plant context.