Cryptic dioecy in flowering plants
1Dept of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Barnes Laboratory, 5630 S. Ingleside Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Abstract:
In some dioecious plant species, mates and/or females have large and presumably costly opposite-sex structures that are sterile. This is termed 'cryptic dioecy'. Several new cases of cryptic dioecy have recently been studied. They may give information about the minimal requirements for the evolution of separate sexes from hermaphroditism, because the most important differences contributing to the initial advantage of the breeding system have not been obscured by further developments. Reviewed in this light, cryptic dioecy can provide evidence on the role of reallocation of reproductive resources in the evolution of dioecy.
Related Concept Videos
Dihybrid Crosses
Dihybrid Crosses
Introduction to Seed Plants
Morphogenesis
Incomplete Dominance
Trihybrid Crosses
Some of Mendel’s crosses examined three pairs of contrasting characteristics. Such a cross is called a trihybrid cross. A trihybrid cross is a combination of three individual monohybrid crosses. For example, plant height (tall vs. short), seed shape (round vs. wrinkled), and seed color (yellow vs. green).
The F1 generation plants of a trihybrid cross are heterozygous for all three traits and produce eight gametes. Upon self-fertilization, these gametes have an equal chance to...


