Do flower-colonizing microbes influence floral evolution? A test with fast-cycling Brassica
Sébastien Rivest1, Jessica R K Forrest1
1Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|June 21, 2024
Summary
Flower microbes have minimal impact on floral evolution, contrary to expectations. Pollinators influenced only one trait, with no significant interaction observed between microbes and pollinators on most floral traits.
Area of Science:
- Plant-pollinator interactions
- Microbial ecology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Pollinators are key drivers of floral evolution.
- Flower microbes can influence plant-pollinator interactions.
- The role of microbes in floral evolution remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate how flower-colonizing microbes influence floral evolution.
- Determine the interactive effects of pollinators and microbes on floral evolution.
- Assess the impact of pollinators and microbes on floral morphology, mating system, and attractiveness.
Main Methods:
- Experimental evolution study over 6 generations using fast-cycling Brassica rapa.
- Factorial manipulation of pollinator and microbial presence.
- Measurement of 6 morphological traits, mating system, and flower attractiveness.
Main Results:
- Pollinators significantly affected only flower number; microbes did not drive trait evolution.
- No interaction between pollinators and microbes on morphological traits or flower attractiveness.
- A significant interaction between pollinators and microbes was observed for autonomous selfing evolution.
Conclusions:
- Microbes show weak evidence of mediating floral evolution.
- Pollinator-mediated selection may have been weak, limiting detection of interactive effects.
- Experimental evolution studies are susceptible to drift and artifacts, impacting results.
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