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Related Experiment Video

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Reliable Method for Assessing Seed Germination, Dormancy, and Mortality under Field Conditions

Reliable Method for Assessing Seed Germination, Dormancy, and Mortality under Field Conditions

Published on: November 6, 2016

The evolution of self-fertilization in perennials.

M T Morgan¹, D J Schoen, T M Bataillon

¹Department of Botany, Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-4238, USA.

The American Naturalist

|September 25, 2008

Summary

Perennial plants may avoid self-fertilization due to adult inbreeding depression and costs to future reproduction. These factors diminish the genetic benefits of selfing over multiple seasons.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Plant reproductive strategies
Life history evolution

Background:

Self-fertilization (selfing) is common in plants, but its evolutionary implications in perennial species are understudied.
Existing models often neglect key perennial life-history traits like longevity and adult inbreeding effects.
A generalization suggests annual plants self-fertilize more than perennials, with reproductive assurance previously cited as a reason.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop theoretical models incorporating perennial life-history traits into the study of self-fertilization.
To investigate how adult inbreeding depression and survivorship costs affect the evolution of selfing in perennials.
To re-evaluate the reasons behind the observed difference in selfing rates between annual and perennial plants.

Main Methods:

Development of mathematical models simulating selfing in perennial plants.
Inclusion of parameters for adult inbreeding depression and a survivorship cost linked to seed production.
Analysis of how these factors influence the genetic transmission advantage of selfing over time.

Main Results:

Adult inbreeding depression significantly reduces the evolutionary advantage of selfing in perennials.
The negative impact of inbreeding depression is amplified in long-lived perennials over multiple seasons.
Selfing can impose a cost on future reproduction and survivorship, outweighing benefits of increased seed set.

Conclusions:

Perennial life history, particularly adult inbreeding depression and survivorship costs, provides a strong explanation for lower selfing rates compared to annuals.
Reproductive assurance does not adequately explain the difference, as selfing offers similar assurance to both life forms.
Perennials likely avoid selfing due to the substantial long-term fitness costs associated with inbreeding and reduced future reproductive capacity.