Open AccessEvidence for local outbreeding depression in the Mediterranean island endemic Anchusa crispa Viv. (Boraginaceae)
Author(s) -
Quilichini Angélique,
Debussche Max,
Thompson John D.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
heredity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.441
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1365-2540
pISSN - 0018-067X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2540.2001.00897.x
Subject(s) - outcrossing , outbreeding depression , selfing , biology , inbreeding depression , population , gynodioecy , botany , inbreeding , pollinator , pollination , pollen , demography , dioecy , sociology
In this study we examined the relative effects of inbreeding and outbreeding on offspring fitness over two generations in Anchusa crispa Viv., a rare species which on Corsica (France) occurs in small populations composed of patches of few individuals. Self‐ and outcross‐pollinations were carried out in a single population and F 1 progeny grown to flowering. Plants grown from selfing and outcrossing were then selfed or outcrossed to produce F 2 individuals in four combinations of pollination treatments over two generations, i.e. self + self, self + outcross, outcross + self and outcross + outcross. In the F 1 generation, selfed progeny had a significantly greater number of cymes per plant than outcrossed progeny ( P =0.006). Plants from two generations of selfing had fewer seeds per fruit ( P =0.06) but a significantly greater survival rate ( P < 0.001) and a greater number of cymes ( P =0.06) than those from two generations of outcrossing. Selfed F 2 from outcrossed F 1 had a significantly greater number of cymes ( P < 0.01) than outcrossed F 2 from outcrossed F 1 . In the comparison between selfed and outcrossed F 2 from selfed F 1 the former had a significantly greater survival rate ( P < 0.001), but the latter significantly more flowers per cyme ( P < 0.05). Together, these results indicate that outbreeding depression may occur on a very local scale within populations of this rare endemic species, with important implications for the conservation of rare plants.